Disclaimer: To Be Human is a fanfiction written in the Compilation of FFVII, with respect to the original canon and in accordance with the permissions of Fair Use as a transformative work. No profit is being made and the author only claims original characters used within to help flesh out the story.

A/N: Got the laptop fixed (or at least it seems so, so far!) but I've got some health things springing up. Fortunately, there's some buffer yet. A little peek into what's been going on "off screen" - and yes, I would indeed be that evil.

"Our time has finally come." Elfé didn't raise her voice, but she didn't need to; even if the room hadn't been hushed, all of AVALANCHE was hanging on the words of their stoic leader. "Today, with the help of our allies, AVALANCHE will take a stand and launch a direct attack on the ShinRa. Each of your team leaders has been provided with maps, security codes, and information regarding the guards that will be on hand. SOLDIER ranks are thin, and the bulk of the Turks are tied up in Junon around the President, while the army struggles under incompetent leadership. Though we were unsuccessful in our assassination, our strike tonight on ShinRa Headquarters will eliminate their home base and severely cripple them.

"Fuhito has supplied more Ravens to help wipe out any SOLDIER operatives you may run into. Shears and I will take the main building ourselves, to deal with their Silver General and draw the focus of their most elite fighters. Fuhito hopes to talk their head scientist into joining our cause." She was silent a moment, looking over the crowd. "Some of us will not live through this attack, but know that your sacrifices will not be in vain. Tonight, we take a stand for the Planet. This is the beginning of the end of ShinRa's oppressive and destructive rule."

The masses cheered, stirred by her speech, and she offered a small smile before stepping back with a gesture to Shears.

The former gang leader stepped up, looking over the group with a grin. He'd run a band a hundred people strong, but this? AVALANCHE had just kept growing, even more rallying with their charismatic new ally. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see the redhead perched on a crate by Fuhito, watching him with those bright SOLDIER eyes. The man smiled faintly and made a gesture to the group that was waiting on his word.

Shears straightened, clapping his hands. "Alright, coordination is the key when we start. First thing we have to do is cut their lines to Junon - we don't need their military breathing down our necks, and even if they can get them up and running it'll take a while and buy us time. We're gonna make a hell of an explosion for that, draw their eyes. Once we get some troops headed that way, we'll make a feint for Reactor Eight. That sector is heavily patrolled by the Turks, and also has one of the most used train stations. That train needs disabled as soon as you see that explosion go up. Divide their forces further.

"There's a lot of anti-ShinRa sentiment in the Slums, it'd be good to stir that up, too. Once things are good and stirred up, Genesis there is gonna unleash his forces and they'll close in on the ShinRa Tower. It'll be a hell of a distraction, letting Elfé and me head up there with Fuhito, Genesis, and a handful of Ravens. We'll draw the heavy fire and do as much damage along the way as we can. At that point, the team leaders will get the alert to go and do as much damage to whatever ShinRa properties they can - especially things they rely on for resources like transport and supplies. We will ruin them, just like they've ruined our Planet. But they won't be getting back up. This time, we're going to wreck them!"

The cheering was even louder this time. Shears grinned at Elfé, already feeling the buzz of adrenaline without even starting.

Elfé smiled back, dark eyes lit and fierce. "Spread out, keep in contact. Tonight is our night."

Genesis watched AVALANCHE split into teams, heading off in various directions, and shook his head. "Impressive. Truly impressive."

Fuhito smiled serenely. "They are, yes. Your clones are ready?"

"Of course. Just waiting for my command." The rogue SOLDIER glanced at him. "Your Ravens?"

"Oh they're ready and eager," Fuhito assured him. "I very much believe this plan will be very successful in causing a great deal of damage to the ShinRa. They couldn't possibly anticipate an attack of this magnitude."

"They certainly wouldn't have imagined they would face us both at once," Genesis said. "A useful alliance indeed. What you do with Hojo is your business, of course, though I'd be careful. He's an egotistical narcissist, and I say that as someone who is very qualified to recognize those traits."

"You do the both of you a disservice, Genesis," Fuhito said. "You have proven worthy of your reputation, and there is no one capable of matching Professor Hojo's genius. What he has done in the fields of bioengineering and mako study are beyond the comprehension of all but the most well educated minds."

Genesis made a noncommittal sound, shrugging and hopping off the crate. "I suppose we should get ready as well. You trust your inside contact to accurately locate the scientists?"

"Of course. They've proven consistently reliable, and have a vested interest in our success," Fuhito said. "The intelligence will be reliable. From there, it will only be a matter of making our way to their locations, and from what you've said, the Professor will stand his ground without concern. Any guard he has, we will be able to manage."

"If he and Hollander are together, their guard will likely be more than the new First they had guarding him when I was last here," Genesis said thoughtfully. "Perhaps Sephiroth himself will meet us. It's been quite a while since we've crossed blades."

Elfé and Shears joined them, fully armed though her blade rested on her back similar to the way many SOLDIERs equipped themselves. "Sephiroth won't be enough. If he crosses us, he will be cut down like the rest."

A small part of Genesis tried to protest, but he firmly reminded himself that Sephiroth was practically the face of ShinRa, and no friend of his. It wasn't like he'd ever cared before Genesis had left, endlessly taunting him with his 'superiority' as a warrior, the heroic 'silver general' so beloved by the people. Perhaps Genesis would bring him down off that pedestal himself, and prove once and for all that Sephiroth was no hero.

Feeling a rush of heat, Genesis shifted a little with discomfort he didn't dare show, reminded of his condition. Hollander first. "There's time for that, whether he comes or not. For now, I seek Hollander and will see that you reach Hojo. The arrow has left the bow of the Goddess… it's time."