Warnings: Language, violence.
AN: Sorry this is a rather short chapter.

Zack languished in his tube, floating mindlessly. To anyone looking at him, he appeared helpless, vulnerable, incredibly weak. He looked as though he couldn't do anything. Anyone watching would just walk past. That was his plan. He had to get them out, now. He couldn't let Cloud down, couldn't let him die. This meant he had to make a move, and soon.

He let his body lay limp, gaze resting on Cloud who was hanging there, half dead. He would save him somehow. He could hear the steady beep of the machines monitoring him. He was still, calm, breathing in the recycled air that was tubed to him.

Xyke walked in, examining the two of them.
"Perfect." The signals were exactly how they should be, as strong and calm as could be desired. He walked away, returning a few moments later with a plate of food. He set it down on the table, walking to the controls and draining the mako tube. As the liquid drained away, experiment Z's legs settled on the bottom of the container, and his eyes opened, gazing out of the world, seemingly dazed.

Xyke pushed the button, causing the two halves of the tube to slide apart. He walked over to Zack, removing the oxygen mask from his face.
"Stupid idiot..." Xyke muttered, helping support Z's weight.

Zack's eyes snapped open and he kicked out, sending Xyke sprawling backwards. He tore away the wires that were attached to his body, moving to stand over Xyke, kicking him. Once he was sure that the other was out cold, he returned to the tube. He tore away some of the cable, ignoring the beeping from the machines, and used the wires to bind Xyke's hands and feet. Then he turned to the camera, cutting the wires so that the image stopped. He ran to the control panel.

With some difficulty he worked out which of the buttons to push to drain Cloud's tube. Once it was empty, he separated the two halves and ran over to Cloud. He gently pulled the wires and implants from Cloud's body. He cuddled the other to him, using Xyke's shirt to wipe the green goo from Cloud's body.
"There you go, it's okay Cloud..."

Cloud didn't seem to be awake or aware of what was going on. If it wasn't for Cloud's steady breathing, then Zack would have thought that he was dead. He cuddled Cloud closer.
"Don't give up right Spikey?" Still no response. He looked around, finding Cloud and him some clothes. It didn't take long to find a small SOLDIER uniform. He put it on the other, before dressing himself.

"Okay, well, Spikey, you just do what I say okay? Trust me." He ran through the corridors. He found a corner and popped Cloud safely in it. "You stay there. Don't go anywhere." He rolled his eyes, realising he had just told the catatonic person not to move. He ruffled the blonde's hair, then began to run. He returned, picking up Xyke, holding him close even though the other disgusted him. He ran as quickly as he could, through the corridors with the most cameras. He hoped this would fool them into thinking he had left with Cloud.

He reached the fence, pushed Xyke through and then followed him. He carried the other to a position out of sight and laid him down on the ground, kicking him repeatedly. Feeling better, he raced back to the labs, slipping back in through the fence, returning to Cloud, having found his buster sword rusting in an empty cell. He found no guards or opposition here, they'd all cleared out of the building to chase him. He picked up Cloud and stroked his hair.
"I've got you now. Everyone else has gone, they think I've already escaped." He picked up Cloud, walking with him. "It's okay. I'll take you somewhere safe."

He walked with Cloud, leaving the complex out of the back. He broke into a run, looking down at him.
"Cloud... how am I going to feed you?" He poked him. "You'd better wake up soon."