Tsung was impressed. When the Chiati, he needed to come up with a way to identify the individual since there were multiple Chiati here according to files, had contacted him to tell him that he had disposed of Ved and Hojo that morning he had wondered if the man was lying. Hojo's disappearance was real, but Ved was still up and moving and a liability. At exactly nine O'clock in the morning he had dropped dead of what seemed to be a stroke.

"Cloud, Cloud!" Zack called waving crazily. Cloud stared at Zack who ran towards him and braced for impact.

"Zack!" Angeal called stopping Zack from colliding into Cloud. The large man looked unusually grim.

"What's up 'Geal?" Zack asked worried. His mentor was never this grim.

"Hojo's missing and Ved is dead." He told them. "Every able SOLDIER is needed to look for Hojo. The Turks are investigating Ved's death and won't be much of a help."

"Understood 'Geal," Zack said.

"Except for you and Jay," Angeal told Cloud. Cloud's breathe caught in his throat and instincts honed with years of being with three troublemaking children screamed at him that being singled out was not going to have good benefits. "You two are supposed to head to the Infirmary and get your Mako shots." Zack winced in sympathy.

"Have fun Spiky," he called running off. Cloud stared after Zack, his mouth hanging open.

"That was one time!" He yelled after Zack blushing. He didn't answer Angeal's questioning gaze as Jay laughed from the other room. "You two won't ever let me forget that will you," Cloud grumbled when Jay was standing beside him.

"Nope."

Cloud growled at the ground.

Angeal didn't ask, he was fairly certain that he didn't want to know the answer. Much like Zack's antics this was probably best left alone. What he didn't know couldn't hurt him or make him question his sanity.

All of the Third Class SOLDIERS that were given Mako shots were kept in the infirmary in order to keep them from getting in the way while they were out of commission. Cloud and Jay dozed lightly while the others puked and groaned.

"Those two must be really deep sleepers or didn't get enough sleep last night," a nurse commented. Neither Chiati bothered to correct her when they woke up instantly the moment she opened her mouth. It would put all the effort they had put into relaxing and not throwing up to waste. Cloud heard one nurse complain that whoever had kidnapped Hojo should have done it on another day so that the entire Third Class of Soldier would not be out of commission. The blond smirked internally. He just hadn't wanted that hanging over his head today. Made the shot so much more bearable if he didn't have to plot. Though he really did wonder what he was doing last week. He couldn't remember half of it.

Cloud stared with wide eyes at Angeal.

"What?" He repeated again blinking his second eyelid rapidly. Most Chiati have them and being half Chiati himself he happened to hit the jackpot in that particular gene. It was clear so the other didn't notice it or said nothing. It wasn't exactly something that you brought up in any normal non-Chiati conversation. Ever.

"Did Hojo experiment on you?" The big man asked gently. Cloud's expression was wary and more than a little frightened, like how he thought that a normal Cadet's expression would look, and he reminded Angeal like a Chocobo in the headlights.

"No..." Cloud didn't think so. Last time he checked no scientist had inserted strange foreign substances into his body. Why was Angeal asking him?

"My Spikey's been experimented on?!" Zack shrieked then clung to Cloud who didn't know what to do. It was like dealing with a clingy overprotective mare some days. Where did Zack even come from? Cloud was certain that he and Angeal were alone.

"All those involved in the SOLDIER aspect of ShinRa have to answer these questions." Sephiroth said walking in with a file he gave to Angeal with the necessary paperwork. "Hojo's actions are being investigated." Cloud nodded, that made sense. Hojo had not been seen for three days so naturally what he may have been working on would have spilled out. Zack continued to cling to Cloud, how he managed to do that around a chair he wasn't certain, and check him over.

"So I'm just answering questions?" Cloud asked uncertainly.

"Yes," Sephiroth said. "If you haven't died yet due to his experimentation you are fine." At that Zack freaked out. More. Cloud really wished he had a tranquilizer gun on him or something. "Do you have any times in you memory since you have been a SOLDIER or a Cadet where you cannot remember what happened?" Cloud blanched. How?! He had been so careful!

"Last week," He said, his voice sounded strained. Angeal nodded.

"I'm going to have to ask you some more questions them. Have you grown any extra appendages?" Angeal asked Cloud.

"No," Cloud replied.

"Do you have scales or fur growing?" Angeal asked. Cloud looked distinctly startled. None of the files said anything about that.

"I haven't seen any," Cloud said.

"Webbing in-between feet or hands?" Cloud looked down at his hands, it was possible but unlikely, and saw none.

"No."

"Odd cravings?"

"... No."

"Changes in height of hair color?"

"I don't think so."

"Difference in eye color?"

"I don't think so..." Cloud hadn't really looked in a mirror. Chiati didn't really care what they looked like and he was grasping at straws.

"Do you even look in a mirror in the mornings?" Zack asked Cloud.

"No, I don't really care what I look like." Cloud replied honestly. It worried him that he didn't know.

"Zack can help you check." Angeal said kindly. "If he notices anything off then he can tell us."

Cloud was sent into a small portable dressing thing which looked like it was a portable shower. With only fabric to keep anyone from seeing him. He hoped that he could pass off whatever odd Chiati features he had inherited from his father (who was a full blooded Chiati) off as whatever happed to him from Hojo. Chiati were the descendants of humans, demons, and one weird alien that had came to the plant about two thousand years ago. They had lots of strange features that could be passed on and no one would think to mention it. Who knew what strange features he had? (Cloud had been very careful not to let others see his naked body.)

Cloud stripped to his boxers and stood looking at Zack, all pretenses of being a shy person gone. In its place was a nervous Chiati who didn't want his friend to judge him. He had explained his unique bloodline, but this would be the first time that his friend saw the results of that. Seeing the questioning look in Zack's eyes he nodded and breathed out heavily giving the other permission to tell them everything.

"Second set of clear eyelids, light blue scales on back and neck that are soft to the touch and are hardening at the moment, very little webbing between feet, light blue streaks in his hair, he's taller and leaner, slight point to the ears, slightly slitted eyes, and some signs of agitation to areas which may be more scales growing." Zack said touching the scales lightly. Cloud seemed surprised and tried to see his back, but he wasn't that flexible. There was silence outside and Cloud felt a pang of fear. Chiati accepted these features as normal, but they may not.

"That is a lot." Angeal finally said. "Do the areas of agitation cause you any pain Cloud?" Zack poked one to find scales poke out.

"That was not an invitation to poke." Cloud said flatly. "It's more of a tingling sensation." He said flexing his muscles.

"More scales on the arms and legs." Zack said circling Cloud. "And a few really little ones on there on your face." Cloud touched his cheek in surprise. They were smooth and cool.

"No more agitation," Zack chirped. Cloud rolled his eyes. "No more change either."

"How did no one notice?" Genesis asked. Cloud blushed making the scales gain a slight red hue.

"Cloud is a very private person," Zack replied handing Cloud his Third Class uniform. "The Cadet and Third class uniforms don't show much skin either."

Cloud tapped a pencil on Scarlet's desk. Angry blue slitted eyes locked with hers. In a blur of motion he was in front of her. With a flick of his wrist two blades sprung from their sheathes into his hands. She didn't have time to scream. Her dead body fell to the floor with a muffled thump. Long red hair supported her severed head. His gloved hand opened and it too thudded to the ground. He left quickly through the door and locked it behind him.

Cloud stared at the propaganda on the front page in shock. The President had told the public that the mutations caused by Hojo were the effect of a serum that would make them stronger. He wondered if it was too soon to kill him off. By the way the others were reacting around him he might not get the chance. Cloud put down the paper and put his head in his hands. He and the others were being put in a 'special' unit that would test their limits. And he had a new uniform that would show the scales.

He had put so much time and effort into appearing to be 'normal' and now the President was practically showing him off like a show pony! He was not something to be used as a poster boy. The scales on his face gained a blood red tint signifying his rage.

A small sad smile light his face as the red drained away to be replaced with their normal light blue color. He had achieved his dream, but at what price? Letting his emotions out for a moment Cloud faced his shock, sorrow, anger, and despair. The shock bled away along and he used his emotions to bring back the determination both Vincent's had taught him.

Sitting up with a deep breath Cloud was ready to face the world again. Scales or no scales he still had a lot to do and moping around wouldn't help him at all.

He accepted his new uniform with a stoic face. Zack looked worried, but didn't say anything from his place across the room. Cloud noticed that there were only a few in his unit. Each one looked like their dreams had been shattered. To Cloud's surprise Jay wasn't there. He silently asked Zack to find his friend. Jay was a full blooded Chiati so he should be here.