Hello again. I'm glad everyone enjoying this so far. Especially considering it didn't have a decent plot at first. Which has changed I'm happy to say. Still having trouble finishing up some other updates and I'm really really sorry about that. Especially since you guys have been so patient and awesome about it. I did want to clear one thing up that I was unsure if I had written out well enough in the last chapter.

When Zack saw Cloud in the firelight with a mako glow in his eyes, that was just an illusion created by the fire, yet it was also a vision that the planet was showing Zack. Cloud doesn't have mako yet. ;)

Hope everyone enjoys this update and don't worry, if you like seeing the rest of the FF7 crew making their own intros you'll love how the others make their intros into the story. ^_^

The elevator was half-way down when the doors opened up and and a red-head entered. Sephiroth stepped to the side to allow the man room to reach over and press the floor of his destination. He arched an eye brow when the man reached for the laboratory floor. Normally this man was seen in the snack lounge or on the Turk floor. The General let the thought fade. It was none of his concern.

Reno had been dead on his feet for the past few hours and his forth cup of coffee was proving to have no effect on him. Then again he had been up for almost forty-eight hours straight and caffeine could only do so much. Because of this it took him a minute to register that he not only didn't have the elevator to himself, but he was sharing it with the General.

"Yo," he said while trying to fight back a yawn.

If he was trying to conceal his exhaustion he was doing a poor job of it. Sephiroth could clearly see the bags under his eyes.

"Reno," he greeted. "It's unusual for you to be working this late."

Reno smirked at this, even if the General didn't know you on a personal level he sure as heck could tell when something about you seemed off.

"You heard about what happened in Nibelheim, right?"

Sephiroth nodded in response, "One of our own is missing in the location."

"Yeah," the turk nodded. "I heard about Zack. I guess there was more in that small town than we first thought. That mansion was one of Hojo's little retreats."

At this Sephiroth cast a sideways glance at the turk. A small gesture, but to the turk it showed that he had captured the General's interest.

"Another secret lab?"

Reno nodded, "I'm on my way to give him the good news now."

"What news is that?"

Reno let his shoulders sag slightly. "That the mansion was a total loss. Rude was at the sight and reported nothing was salvageable."

A small smirk appeared on the General's features. "Perhaps I should accompany you, no doubt you'll need some protection from the Professor's wrath."

Reno cocked his head to the side as if weighing his options. "I think I'll accept your offer. I don't think I have enough stamina to deal with a raving Hojo on my own. Tsung's been workin' me pretty hard lately."

"Slacking off again, were you?"

Reno blinked a bit as he looked at the General. Since when was Sephiroth this chatty? With a shrug he merely suppressed another yawn. "Not really, just the normal routine."

"I see."

The bell dinged and the doors slid opened as the two made their way out. Sephiroth wrinkled his nose slightly in disgust at the smell that greeted him. the scent of Mako hung thick in the air. He was well used to it by now, but it was that first whiff that always got him. It was gone as quick as it came, but it never failed to put a damper on his mood and remind him of the person he was about to see. Sephiroth led the way as the two headed down the hall and towards Hojo's office which is where he could usually be found unless he was working on one of his experiments.

Hojo was writing notes and reading over several files when the two entered. He didn't even look up to acknowledge them as he continued scribbling down cryptic equations and side notes. Reno cleared his throat, but it seemed to have no effect.

"Professor Hojo," Reno tried again.

"If you lack the ability to be patient then you have no business requesting an audience with me. Wait like an adult or throw a tantrum and leave like a child."

Sephiroth could easily sense Reno bristling next to him, but the Turk kept quiet. Very few people could tolerate Hojo and his 'I am smarter and far more superior than anyone' attitude. Sephiroth could only stand him for long, but he had a higher tolerance than most, though, not by choice.

Finally after what seemed like twenty minutes (and probably was) the professor set his pen down and looked up at his guests.

"Ah, Sephiroth. The only person in this infernal company worth conversing with, what brings you here?"

Sephiroth glanced to his side as Reno took a step forward and placed a file on Hojo's desk. The scientist just looked up at Reno as if he were a child who just handed him his report card.

"You should probably have a look at that," Reno told him.

Hojo glared at him as if he were an annoying fly buzzing around his office before picking up the file and scanning over it. The two watched as his bored expression began transforming into one of surprise, and then anger. Finally he threw the file down as he shot up from his chair.

"I want to know who is responsible for this so I can personally hold them accountable!"

Sephiroth shook his head, "No one. It was an outbreak of monsters that had overtaken the area. The town was destroyed."

"I don't care about the town! Do they know how much this loss costs me?! Decades worth of research and experiments gone up in flames?!" He turned to Sephiroth then, "What about the reactor?"

"As far as I am aware there is no damage reported there."

Hojo stopped his ranting and appeared to calm down. Only his hands were still shaking with anger. "I want extra security placed there at all times."

Sephiroth nodded and Hojo turned his back on them. "Leave me, I need time to think."

"I'm not finished," Reno started.

"I said get out!" Hojo snapped and Sephiroth gave the turk a look that told him not to argue. As the two stepped back into the elevator Reno went into full rant about what a jerk Hojo was, but Sephiroth ignored it for the most part. He was more concerned with Hojo's behavior. Just what was in that mansion and more importantly, what was in the reactor that would make Hojo want to increase security? Hearing that it been safe seemed to reassure him which considering he had just lost so much meant that whatever was in the reactor was more important than Hojo was letting on.

. . .

The sound of a ferry whistle rang clear in the air as the charter skimmed over the waves of the ocean. Sea birds called as they glided on the warm ocean breeze overhead. Zack smiled up at the clear blue sky as he took a bite from his plate. It felt so good to be somewhere far away from those mountains. Not a single snow flake in sight. Even though he was heading back to Midgar, this felt more like a vacation than anything. At least now that his life wasn't in any danger. His good mood faltered a bit when he looked over at his friend.

Cloud had found out not long after the ferry had set out that he was prone to sea sickness. The waves were calm enough, but the constant rocking back and forth even slightly was enough to do him in and he was currently leaning over the rail, trying to keep his breakfast down.

"Poor Kid," Zack mumbled to himself as he took a sip of his iced tea. He would have to remember to make sure he carried motion sickness medicine whenever they traveled from now on.

After another fifteen minutes Cloud moved away from the rail and took a seat at the table.

"Feel better?" asked Zack.

"Once we get off this boat I will."

"Ferry."

"Whatever."

Cloud folded his arms on the table and buried his head. The darkness was a welcome relief from the bright sunshine and the view of the summer salad that Zack was enjoying.

"Is this your first time on a boat?" asked Zack.

"Yes," came the muffled reply.

"Well, the nausea shouldn't last forever. Normally it goes away after a day or two. Why don't you try drinking some water?"

The blonde didn't need any second bidding. He took the glass that was next to his hand and gulped it down before Zack got his attention.

"Don't chug it down, you'll only make your self sick again. Small Sips, that's the key," he added with a wink.

Cloud slowed down and followed his friend's advice. It did help, but he suddenly felt a different kind of sickness. One he was sort of surprised to be suffering. "Do you think Nibelheim can get back on its feet?"

Zack leaned back in his chair, "Don't know."

He saw the depressed expression the boy had and smirked. "But, if the survivors are half as stubborn as you are they'll be fine. I wouldn't worry about it. Especially with that guy hanging around. I don't think they'll have any monsters to worry about for a while."

"What guy?" asked Cloud.

"He must've been a hunter or some kind of skilled fighter," Zack replied. "He had a pretty cool lookin' triple barrel gun, a golden claw on his left hand that would put a dragon's claw to shame and he had this really spooky red cloak. It's like it had a life of its own. He'd look like a total badass if not for those funny boots. They were pointed, like really pointed, kinda like something a clown would wear."

"Sounds like the Red Ghost of the Mansion."

"Huh, odd. That's where that guy said he came from."

Cloud shook his head. "It's been abandoned as far back as anyone could remember. Sometimes you'd hear the monsters that dwell within which was more than enough to keep people away."

"So, you're saying that guy was the ghost?" Zack blinked in surprise.

Cloud only shook his head. "Ghosts don't exist, he was probably pulling your leg. Most likely he was just some bounty hunter looking to hunt a bunch of monsters for the gil."

The next two days went by quickly. Cloud was so happy when they finally got back on dry land. He was currently waiting with their stuff while Zack was making a few phone calls. When Zack did return he looked delfated.

"What's wrong?" asked Cloud.

"Huh?" Zack looked up and shook his head. "Nothin' for you to worry about. Angeal just chewed me up and spit me out for making him worry like I did. I also found a way to cut our travel time in half."

"What do you mean?"

"I hired a guy to fly us most of the way home."

Cloud wasn't sure that was such a good idea, but he didn't look forward to traveling a long distance either, so he decided to keep his thoughts to himself as he followed Zack away from the port and towards the airfield and it was when they were almost at the front gate that he wondered why he was still lugging the heavy bag around. His foot was still healing and this heavy suit case wasn't helping.

"Why'd you get that thing anyway?" he asked as they sat in the waiting room. The pilot that would be taking them hadn't arrived yet.

"Well, it's big enough to carry all of our stuff for one," he replied.

"I'll say. It's so big I could fit inside," Cloud replied.

At this Zack chuckled.

"What's so funny?"

"You'll see," was all he said.

Their pilot arrived about thirty minutes later and apologized for the hold up, though it was hard to translate it through his fowl mouth that was loaded with every swear word in the dictionary. Out of all the gibberish Zack was able to deduce that the man's name was Cid Highwind and that he was the best pilot from here to Wutai. How that true that was still to be seen, considering his plane was a small aircraft and the name 'Little Bronco' was painted on the side of the red plane.

When they got ready to leave Zack put the suitcase in the compartment with a few sacks of what looked like bird feed.

"Hey Pops, what with all the bird food?"

"That's my other delivery and where you boys get off. I'm headin' for the Chocobo ranch that's to the South East of Kalm. It's a little farther than Midgar, but it'll save you a lot more time trekkin' from there than here."

"True enough," Zack replied as he closed the hatch.

Cloud peered into the one of the seats. "Um, there isn't enough to fit all three of us, is there?"

Cid bit onto his cigarette as he smirked at the kid. "What, yer small enough to share with yer pal ain't'cha?"

"I'm not small," Cloud retorted with a slight pout.

Seeing the kid's reaction Cid's smirk only grew, "A'corse we could always pack ya with the bird feed, but bein' the little chocobo that you are, ya might eat it all, haha!"

Cloud's pout only grew and before Zack could step in the kid kicked the pilot in the shin. Cid doubled over and held his leg while hissing a boat-load of curses under his breath.

"Spiky~,"

"He had it coming," the blonde replied.

Once everyone had calmed down and settled Cid made sure the other two were buckled up before taking off. Much to Cloud's protests he was small enough to sit comfortably in the same seat with Zack who didn't seem to mind. That is until they were in the air and he realized he forgot to buy motion sickness medicine for Cloud who had grown pale and his face had taken on a slight green tint.

Next Time: Chocobo lessons, Saving a Thief, and Cloud's first encounter with a Zolom!