I do not own anything nor do I make any money from this story. All rights apply.

Bring the Rain 04

"Where is Cloud?" demanded Zack.

"He's fine, he's with the Turks," said Tseng.

"Have you arrested him?" asked Zack eyes narrowing.

"No," said Tseng firmly. "Strife is not being detained. He took part in a classified mission and in the process of being debriefed."

"Then why have you called me?" asked Zack.

"Events have transpired that I would like your assistance with."

Zack was annoyed, and now he was suspicious. The mission had ended hours ago and he hadn't seen Kunsel nor Cloud, and Kunsel wasn't answering his phone either. When Tseng had called him, Zack had assumed it was to fetch Cloud but not so. He'd been told clearly by Reno that he was there to speak to Tseng, that's it. Then Tseng had all but ignored Zack's questions as he led him to his office.

"My help?"

Tseng nodded and indicated Zack should take a seat before doing so himself. It worried Zack that Tseng hadn't taken a seat in his chair behind the desk but rather the chair opposite his.

"Is… there a problem?" asked Zack.

"How well do you know Kunsel?"

"Kunsel? Is he okay?" asked Zack thinking about the unanswered calls and messages.

"Please answer the question." There was a note of finality in Tseng's voice.

"Um, well, I met him when I joined ShinRa," started Zack. "Er… He's reliable and good at his job. He helps out when he can, he's strong. He likes to gossip and um, he's good at keeping secrets. He's my friend, I can rely on him."

"What about his family?"

"Like his parents?"

Tseng nodded.

"He always visits his parents before a long mission and they sound like nice people," said Zack thinking back.

"Have you ever met them?"

"No." The conversation was starting to worry Zack.

"Has he ever mentioned his extended family?"

"Extended family?"

"Cousins and the like," clarified Tseng.

"I don't think so – I don't know, I can't remember."

"Do you know if anyone in Kunsel's family has issues with ShinRa or SOLDIER or that Kunsel works for ShinRa?"

Zack really didn't like the direction the questions were going.

"I don't know."

"In light of past events has Kunsel ever spoken against ShinRa?"

"Um… Not to me." Now Zack was starting to get nervous.

"Has he been acting strangely or being secretive?"

"No, he's been his usual self," said Zack thinking that Kunsel's usual self was strange and secretive.

Tseng was quiet for a bit, studying Zack, evaluating something.

"Is there anything you want to tell me about Kunsel and the events in Nibelheim?"

"Nothing," said Zack too quickly but tried to cover it, "my report has… what I know about… that."

It was obvious Tseng didn't believe, but then Tseng had made it clear at the time he was accepting their story but he knew there was more to it – a lot more. The silence stretched and Zack tried to channel Sephiroth with his silence.

"I'm going to show you a video," Tseng finally said and drew out his PHS.

Zack nodded – he had a terrible feeling in his gut.

The PHS screen showed Cloud sitting at a steel table – an interrogation room. Zack was about to make a comment about Cloud 'not being detained' but Tseng came into view.

"Sorry for the wait," said Tseng taking a seat. "This is the file of the man you identified as the leader of the rebels."

Cloud opened the file and looked over the information.

"His name's Kunsel?" asked Cloud as he looked over the pages. "He's a ShinRa employee? He's a SOLDIER?"

Tseng nodded.

"Have you not met him before?" he asked.

"No," said Cloud still looking over the file.

Tseng stopped the video and sat still in his chair watching Zack stare at the PHS screen.

"Any idea why Strife would identify Kunsel as the leader of the rebels?" asked Tseng completely ignoring the fact that Cloud also claimed not to know Kunsel.

Zack didn't hear Tseng's question – why did Cloud say he didn't know Kunsel? It made no sense at all and Zack couldn't think of a logical reason for Cloud to lie. And Cloud was terrible at lying. In order for him to say that with such conviction, he must believe what he was saying. Except he knew Kunsel… But there had been a time when Cloud hadn't known Kunsel. Zack's brows furrowed in thought. For some reason Cloud thought he was in his original time line. Did it have something to do with the mako raging through his body? Didn't the mako suppressant sort that out? That didn't make sense either – the rebels were in this time line and he had identified Kunsel, who he knew in this time line, as the rebel leader. Had he somehow just forgotten Kunsel?

Tseng cleared his throat.

"Any idea why Strife would identify Kunsel as the leader of the rebels?" repeated Tseng.

"Kunsel isn't the leader of the rebels," said Zack focusing on something he knew.

"Of course not," said Tseng. "He was here when Holden was attacked. My question is why did Strife identify Kunsel as the rebel leader?"

"If you know Kunsel's not the leader what's with all the questions about him?"

"I do not like repeating myself," said Tseng mildly.

Zack realised Tseng hadn't been questioning him about Kunsel, he had been testing Zack's loyalty to his friends and ShinRa.

"I don't know," said Zack. He really didn't know – he didn't know what to think, he didn't know what to do, he didn't know what was going on.

"How well do you know Strife?" asked Tseng.

Zack shrugged in a defeated manner – how well did anyone know anyone really?

"When Cloud first became known to ShinRa he had issues with Sephiroth personally," started Tseng, "after the events in Nibelheim, is it possible that his animosity turned toward ShinRa?"

Zack kept his eyes on the floor. Cloud refused to speak about Nibelheim in any more detail other than what Kunsel had told them. Zack also knew that Cloud didn't trust ShinRa and that even though his relationship with Sephiroth was no longer one of 'kill him to death', there were still times when old habits came to the fore.

But there was one thing he was sure of.

"Cloud would not act against ShinRa in any way that involved innocent people."

Tseng inclined his head in agreement and acceptance.

"Where is Kunsel?" asked Zack. He didn't know if he could feel any lower than he did at the moment.

"Missing."

Zack nodded, as he had suspected – Kunsel was in trouble.

"We haven't found a body nor have we found anything of his team. We're working under the assumption that he and his team have been kidnapped by the rebels for reasons not yet known," said Tseng.

Again Zack nodded – what a bloody mess!

Tseng brought his PHS forward and Zack discovered he could feel lower.

"Before I show you the rest of the video, I want you to know that this is now the only copy and only Cloud, myself and now you know of it and what's on it. Also know that I'm the only one who knows Cloud identified Kunsel as the rebel leader."

Zack did not feel consoled by those words and he didn't want to look at the video but did as Tseng touched 'play'.

For a couple of seconds Cloud continued to read the folder before pushing it away.

"Where was Kunsel?" he asked. "When the fight broke out I didn't see him. Or any of the other Thirds."

"The fight in the diner?" asked Tseng his tone incredibly neutral.

Zack was mildly impressed at how effortlessly Tseng could keep himself composed and, of course, lie so comfortably when Cloud was giving such contrary information.

"Yeah, with Reno. At dinner Kunsel said he was going as back up."

"The situation didn't call for back up," said Tseng.

"Then why did he go Nibelheim?" asked Cloud.

Zack went very still, fully aware that Tseng knew what was coming next and was watching him for clues. He was also very conscious of Cloud's recent desire to please and give out information that he would normal keep to himself.

"Do you want to ask me about Nibelheim?" asked Tseng after a moment's hesitation.

Cloud shook his head quickly. The silence dragged on for a good while.

"You did nothing." There was hurt in Cloud's voice. "You let him take us."

"What should I have done?"

Cloud dropped his head into his hand and didn't say anything further.

Tseng stopped the video.

"He doesn't say anything after that."

Zack felt himself relax at that – one small blessing.

"Do you know what he was referring to in his last statement?" asked Tseng.

Zack shook his head. He didn't but he had a pretty good idea it had something to do with Cloud's original timeline. He also wondered what Tseng hadn't done that made Cloud so upset.

"Is there anything I should know?" asked Tseng.

Zack open his mouth to say 'no' but knew Tseng would know it was a lie. There were some things he needed to know to help him find Kunsel but Zack couldn't give the bits without giving the whole story and he couldn't give the whole story – protect Cloud's secret or save Kunsel's life? It was betrayal either way.

"If there's nothing else," said Tseng. "You and Cloud can go."

Zack got up and walked out without saying anything – he needed to talk to Angeal. Angeal always knew what do say, but he was only coming back tomorrow. Actually, later today, amended Zack as he glanced at the clock on the wall. He also needed to tell Sephiroth and Genesis, and sooner rather than later. Should he call or just arrive at the door at one thirty in the morning?

One part of the question was answered when he saw Genesis waiting with Cloud in the empty reception area of the Turk offices. Cloud sat slumped staring at the floor with a hooded eyes, he didn't look up when Zack arrived. For all the non-emotion Cloud showed, Genesis, on the other hand, didn't just look angry, he was fuming.

"Do you have any idea what mako suppressant does to the body?" he demanded.

Zack shook his head – he'd been doing that a lot this evening.

"Cloud should have been asleep hours ago not running around on missions."

"I did not tell him to go on the mission, I did not keep him here for hours," snapped Zack.

Genesis pulled back at Zack uncharacteristic outburst and actually looked Zack in the eye.

"What's going on?" he asked.

Zack looked at Cloud and back at the Turk offices.

"I can't tell you here, but I need to tell you and Sephiroth. And Angeal when he gets back."

"How bad?" asked Genesis as he took Cloud by the arm and eased him to his feet.

"It's… it's…" Zack glanced back at the Turk offices and Genesis seemed to get the message.

"Let's head over to Sephiroth's apartment."

"Will he be awake?" asked Zack trying to check out Cloud.

Genesis shrugged and said,

"He will be when I knock on the door."

XxX

As the three approached Sephiroth's door it opened. The General did not look amused. In fact, he looked irritated and cast Cloud a frustrated eye. Zack added it to the oddities of the night. Wordlessly he stepped back to allow them in. Just as wordlessly Genesis direct Cloud to the sofa. As he sat down, Genesis gently pushed him over and told him to sleep.

"There is something seriously wrong with Cloud," whispered Zack as Genesis walked back to them.

"In what way?" asked Sephiroth strangely intently.

"He is not just confused, he is…" Zack searched for something to convey the gravity of the situation, "fucked in the head."

"That's pretty strong for a friend," said Genesis matching their low tones.

Zack's arm flew out in direction of the sleeping Cloud.

"I don't know who that is."

"He's probably just really tired from the mako suppressant and the mission," said Genesis.

"No, this is something else." There was a tone that gave the other two pause.

Sephiroth glanced at the time.

"We're not going to get much sleep tonight," he said. "Put Cloud in my bed and we can talk properly."

"Who's going to carry him? He's short but he's not light," said Genesis. SOLDIER were strong but carrying a limp body was a difficult task for anyone – dead weight and no hand holds.

"Zack," said Sephiroth. "He does squats all the time – lift with your knees, not your back."

It almost felt like they should laugh but the situation was too troubling. Zack went over to the sofa and slung Cloud's arm around his neck pulling his body close before gathering up his legs. Genesis was right, he wasn't light. Two thoughts ran through Zack's mind as he carry Cloud – one, it reminded him too much of how Vincent had carried the heavily wounded Cloud down from the Reactor in Nibelheim, and two, in another life time he'd apparently done this regularly.

Once Cloud was settled on the bed, Zack went to remove his boots but stopped after taking off one.

"What's wrong?" asked Genesis from the doorway.

"He has no socks on," said Zack looking at Cloud's clothes. "He's wearing the same clothes from this morning. That means he hasn't been to his apartment since I got him this morning."

"If he didn't go back, then he took none of his gear with him – why would anyone go on a mission without their gear?" mused Genesis.

"It started before the mission…" muttered Zack.

"What started?" asked Genesis.

Zack pointed outside the bedroom door.

"Let's talk."

Zack removed Cloud's other boot, made sure he was okay and comfortable before he and Genesis joined Sephiroth.

"Start from the beginning," said Sephiroth once they were seated.

Zack took a calming breath.

"I think it started in Holden."

"What started?" asked Genesis echoing his earlier question.

"I don't know what it is – it's like he has," Zack didn't want to say it, "different personalities. And they're mixed up."

"In the meeting he was definitely wearing some kind of persona," said Sephiroth.

"It's kinda got worse, I think," said Zack. "Sometimes he's really talkative and talks… a lot."

"A lot?" Both looked sceptical.

"Yeah, about… how he feels."

"Cloud?" checked Genesis.

"He told me some stuff at the infirmary that I don't think he would have normally," said Zack.

"I remember he was quite honest," said Genesis thinking back. "And quite vocal at dinner."

"It gets worse, he doesn't stay, no, he doesn't remember – he bounces around his timelines."

"What do you mean 'bounces'?" asked Genesis.

"At the start of the conversation he was talking about one timeline but at the end he was talking about a different one," said Zack.

"What conversation?" Genesis again.

"His debriefing with Tseng after the mission."

"Did he identify the rebel leader?" Sephiroth appeared happy to let Genesis take the questioning lead.

"Yes," said Zack with hesitation. "He said it was Kunsel."

"Kunsel?"

Zack nodded.

"Why?"

"I dunno. He also said he'd never met Kunsel."

"Absurd, they spent months in captivity together," said Genesis. His tone contrasted against his words.

"He then wanted to know why Kunsel hadn't helped with the mission because at dinner he said he would be back up," continued Zack.

"But he just said he didn't know Kunsel."

"A sentence earlier," confirmed Zack. "He also started talking about Nibelheim."

Genesis and Sephiroth shared a glance.

"His Nibelheim," clarified Zack.

"Ah." Both of them stilled and waited.

"Yeah, Tseng did some- or rather, Tseng didn't do something but should have. I dunno, but it really upset Cloud," said Zack. "I couldn't see on the video but I think he was crying."

"Video?"

"Video of the debriefing – only me and Tseng have seen it. And only the two of us and you guys know that Cloud identified Kunsel as the rebel leader," said Zack.

There was silence for a minute while the others digested the information.

"I have something to add," said Sephiroth.

"Really!?" asked Zack. He hadn't even got round to Kunsel being missing and there was more bad news.

"My… connection with Cloud has always been a vague sense of location with the occasionally impressions from heighten emotions such as when Cloud was in captivity and during particularly bad nightmares. However, since earlier this evening I'm able to feel every emotion and sensation Cloud is experiencing."

"Everything?"

"Everything – mako burn in his muscles, nausea, hunger, thirst, pain, confusion, fear, upset, exhaustion. It's quite a rollercoaster."

Zack glanced between the two in question.

"He's passed out, I feel nothing right now," offered Sephiroth.

Now Zack was really at a loss.

"Kunsel knows more about Cloud than any of us, maybe he has some ideas."

"Nah, he's missing," said Zack flatly.

"What do you mean missing?" asked Genesis indignantly.

"Tseng thinks the rebels have Kunsel and his team, and that there's a mole in ShinRa," added Zack in the same flat tone.

"A mole? Did Tseng give you any idea who?" asked Sephiroth.

"Actually," said Zack. "He never directly said anything. It was just from his questions and the situation, I assumed…"

"Let's work on the assumption there is a mole – it would explain the intel that lead to both mission and why both failed," said Sephiroth.

"Cloud has seen the rebel leader and so knows who the alleged mole is," said Genesis voicing his thoughts.

"Only he said the rebel leader was Kunsel," reminded Zack.

"Maybe he has Kunsel's face in his memory but at the time didn't know who he was and so thought it was the rebel leader," mused Genesis aloud. "If that's true, it means we have to wait for him to be in the here and now to ask him about the mole – that is, if the rebel leader and the mole are the same person."

"Putting it all together we have a missing SOLDIER and his team, a mole somewhere in ShinRa, a rebel group with an unknown agenda and an unreliable witness," continued Genesis after a pause.

"Don't forget Tseng," added Zack. "He saw how shut down Cloud was after the mission in Holden and took him off active duty. Now he's seen this and asking questions… If he comes to the wrong conclusions, Cloud could be permanently removed from duty."

"Cloud must remain an active SOLDIER," said Sephiroth. His tone made Zack and Genesis look at him. "ShinRa will not ignore him – if he isn't working for ShinRa, they will want to contain him."

"Oh crap…" muttered Zack.

"What?" said Sephiroth and Genesis at the same time.

"Tseng asked me if, er, if Cloud's anger toward you when he first arrived could have shifted to ShinRa after the Nibelheim incident."

"Does he think that Cloud orchestrated the attacks, or is in any way connected to the rebels?" asked Sephiroth.

"No," said Zack. "Not in this case."

"But he is thinking along those lines," said Genesis.

"Tseng hasn't made any suggestions or accusations to Lazard-"

"Or the other Turks," added Zack.

"-so we have some time," said Sephiroth. "Angeal is part of this as well. He'll be back in a few hours and we talk further then. Cloud is with us so there's no danger of him taken."

"One of us should be with him at all time, and not just for safety," said Zack. "We still need a positive identification of the rebel leader."

"I have an idea, but I might need some help," said Genesis.

"Of course, anything you need," said Sephiroth and Zack nodded his offer to help.

"Not your help," said Genesis.

"Whose?"

Genesis blew out an uncharacteristic sigh.

"Tseng's."