Chapter 1

Dirt road, Two years ago

A yellow pickup truck was traveling down a dirt road, bouncing and rocking so it must have made the two young passengers in the trunkbed motion sick. But, no. One was sick, but the cause was from nothing natural. His companion on the otherhand, was in high spirits...

Zack stood up and looked at the sickly Cloud. "Hey, you ok"
The truck hit a pothole and Zack almost fell off, flailing his arms wildly for a couple seconds he was able to grab hold of the roof of it. The truck driver yelled out the back window. "Sit down! What are ya crazy? I'm not gonna be picking up your body if you happen to fall off, kid"
Zack leaned to the side window and tried to yell over the noise of the truck. Instead he got mouthfull of dust. Thrown into a spitting fit he sat down.

Zack turned to Cloud and leaned toward him to be heard over the all the noise around them. "When we get to my girls house, she's gonna be so shocked. She makes the most delicious casserole. Wait till you try it, Cloud. I bet that'll perk you up..." He tapped Cloud on the shoulder. "You didn't fall asleep on me did ya?"

Cloud's head jerked up slightly in reply. Zack shook his head. "You got motion sickness bad, huh? Hey don't worry, I'll take care of ya till you get back on your feet, okay?" Though he knew it was more than motion sickness that ailed his friend.

Zack sat back and looked up at the sun. "Boy its a beautifull day... Hey, maybe we could get new jobs." He looked at Cloud. "What do you want to be? Maybe we could be Mercenaries. Yeah! That would be great wouldn't it? We could make good money that way. Of course, you won't be working until you get better. You know, that'd be a great idea." Zack stood up again in the trunkbed. Turning to the driver he banged on the hood and yelled through the back window. "Hey, driver! Is there any mercanaries in Midgar?"

The old man turned his head to him, yelling back. "No, not that I know of. And would you SIT DOWN!" Zack turned to Cloud, he punched his fist into his hand. "Score! Hey Cloud, we're going to make good money! GAH!-" The truck hit another pothole and Zack fell down into the trunkbed.

"DIDN'T I TELL YA TO QUIT STANDING! IT AIN'T GONNA BE MY FAULT IF YER FALL OUT." Zack rubbed the back of his head, which had hit the side of the truck. "Ow, Yeah! Okay! I'm sorry"
"You shouldn't be sorry to me! You'd be the one who would be sorry when yer dead!" The old man cackled.

"Yes grandpa." He mumbled and sat up. Leaning against the side of the truck and dozed off...

Shin-Ra Military Inspection Point, Outside Midgar

The sudden jerk of the truck coming to a stop woke Zack from his nap. Sitting up he knocked on the back window, startling the driver.
"Hey, old man. Why'd ya stop"
The old man looked back at him and shook his head. "There's a road block ahead. Shin-Ra. They must be looking for something. Can't tell what though." Zack did catch much of else that came from the old mans mouth. His thoughts were deep and in worry. iShin-Ra... They must be looking for us. Zack looked at Clouds unsconcious spikey headed body. I don't think he'll be up to the challenge of fighting... Damn it. He looked back at the driver.

"Couldn't you just go around it?" The old man looked at him in shock.
"And be in trouble with the Shin-Ra military? No way. Are you nuts"
The old man shook his head. Zack stood up and peered over the top of the truck. He saw the road block ahead, he knelt back down in the truckbed.

He leaned over to Cloud and tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey Cloud, you up for going on foot? Cloud?" Clouds head jerked in response, as usual these days. iI have to get him out of here./i Zack picked up Cloud and jumped out of the truck. Leaning Cloud against the back of the truck, Zack checked on the progress of the road block inspection. The Shin-Ra Officers were checking every car in the block, right now the red officer stuck his head into a car. This is our chance.

Zack heard Cloud let out a soft, painful moan. Turning to him, Zack placed his hand on Clouds shoulder. "You okay Cloud?" Cloud gave the usual response. Zack shook his head. I have to get him out of here, but I don't think I'll be able to protect him if there are too many soldiers... Hang in there Cloud... I'll get you out of here. I promise. Making a breif check on the Shin-Ra soldiers, Zack determined the coast was clear. Turning back to Cloud, Zack picked him up onto his shoulders. "Okay, are you ready, buddy?" Cloud, again, gave his usual response.

Right, I have to move fast. Making one last check, Zack saw a bush not too far away. Alright, here we go. Zack ran as fast and as silently as he could, carrying Cloud, made it to the bush. Setting Cloud down Zack checked his bearings, the soldiers were moving from car to car, as usual. He turned to Cloud.
"Okay, we could keep moving or we could wait for them to go away... What do you think?" Cloud did not respond, Zack looked to the direction of the soldiers. The sooner I get him to Aeris house the better off he'll be. I just hope I can make it.

Nodding Zack made his decision. "Right, we'll keep moving. No sence in laying around waiting to be caught." He grabbed Cloud and waited for the officers to busy themselves, then ran over to the nearest car, right now the only cover in sight. He checked on the progress of Shin-Ra's 'military', seeing some officers were coming this way, he bit his lip. Damn it! Bad timing, Zack. Shiva, this is turning out to be one of my bad days isn't it.

As the soldiers came nearer Zack placed Cloud against the car and readied his sword, guess I'll have to fight. He heard a slight tap on the glass of the vehicle, looking Zack saw a small child. The child waved at him and roled down the window. "Whatcha' doin'?" The child squeaked. Zack stared at the little boy for a couple of moments. The boy looked at the military men, then back at Zack. "Your the one those bad men are after, aren't you?"

Zack nodded. "Why?" The little boy asked. All Zack could do was shake his head. "I'm afraid I can't tell you, kid." The child caught sight of Zack's drawn sword. "Your going to get hurt aren't you?" The little boy seemed genuinely worried.
Zack nodded. "Most likely"
The kid gave a pouty look at Zack. "No one should get hurt. We'll help you"
"We?" Zack had a very confused look on his face, and he stared at the child.

"Yep." The child responded. "Me and my friends." Another window rolled down and Zack could see a whole bunch of kids packed together inside what he now noticed was a van. The children stared at him in awe and Zack couldn't help but feel greatfull and worried at the same time. He shook his head. "I'm sorry I can't let you get hurt." The children stared at him some more and shook there heads as well.

"Sorry," Said the little boy who seemed to have authority among the youngsters. "We don't take no for an answer."

The children got out of the van, there must have been fifteen or more, and ran over to the officers. Each child was jumping up and down asking the soldiers uncounted and meaningless questions.

Those kids are crazy. At least they did give a distraction. Zack sheathed his sword, picking up Cloud he ran. Keeping behind the vehicles Zack reached the beginning of the check point; looking past it, he saw Midgar. Aeris, I'm almost home.

"We're gonna make a run for it. You ready Cloud?" Cloud's head jerked once again and Zack nodded. "Gotta get rid of the guards first. Be right back." He layed Cloud down, unsheathing his sword once again, Zack ran towards the guardhouse.

The guards saw him at the last minute and were not quick enough to defend against the giant blade of his Buster sword. Cutting down his enemies Zack hurried over to get Cloud, one of the surviving guards reached a bloody hand to the alarm. The sound shocked Zack, looking back he saw that the soldiers were rushing past the children, knocking them down and stepping on them.

Damn it! Zack tried to run faster, if only Cloud had enough consciousness to at least help run. Running up a hill Zack realized he would have to stand and fight. Setting Cloud down he unsheathed his sword for the last time. He turned and charged into the enemies ranks, the first row of soldiers he saw, utilizing all of the skills given to him by the military his attacks were now stronger with the experiments Hojo had put him through.

Adrenalin ran hot through his veins, Zack was amazed by his increase in ability. I guess not everything they did to us was bad. Focus Zack. No distractions.

Defeating what he thought was all that was left of the Shinra soldiers, Zack ran over to Cloud and started to kneel. He heard gunshots behind him, he turned to the new set of soldiers. Damn it! The gunshots were going every where, Zack ran to charge the enemy once again.

Suddenly he felt bullets rip through his skin, knocking him back. "Gah!" Zack fell onto his back, he was going to get up, but Shin-Ra soldiers were standing over him. They started shooting, pain ripped through Zack's body, his body jerked with pain and the pressure from the bullets firing into him.

Zack went limp, his spinal cord was severed, and he could not have moved even if he had the strength. His head fell back and he caught a glimpse of the giant city, directly in front of him was the entrance to Sector 5.

Realization shot through him, he had been just outside where she lived. Just outside the serenity of his love and her flower garden's. I was soo close... Aeris... I'm sorry... Gunshots again rang out and Zack felt himself die. Hopefully... I'll see you again...

"Aeris..."