"How long has it been?" Elena asked as Kayaku stared out the window at his homeland.

"Too long." Kayaku said looking away. "I chose to stay away after the war. But I came back a few times on business."

"You mean consorting with terrorists." Elena said quietly.

"Yes." Kayaku said. "I was working with many of the anti-Shinra fighters when I last came here."

Their plane touched down and they shuffled out of the plane and through the terminal collecting their bags. In less than an hour they were leaving in their black rented four door sedan.

"You know we're being followed right?" Elena asked looking at the mirror from the passenger seat.

"Since we got off the plane." He said.

He noticed someone following them from the gate. As soon as he was starting to views the man's presence as suspicious he turned a different corner. Only to have another man start following them. Every hundred fifty meters or so their tail would be replaced by another.

"It's a professional job." Elena noted. "Their organized and trained."

Kayaku exited the freeway to the surface streets where it'd be easier to escape. The turn was sudden and last minute. The dark grey truck following them didn't manage to get off with them. But a white sedan was waiting for them. It moved in behind them at a distance. They stopped at a red light. Kayaku counted to three and ran it. The tailing car hit the gas and followed after them only to get smashed by an incoming truck.

The greatest way to lose a car tailing you is to drive like you're an idiot. If you break traffic laws and make risky moves your tail should either become obvious for you or they'll decide to maintain their cover.

Their followers choose to do the former instead of the latter. They followed them and their reckless driving telling Kayaku two distinct things. One it told him that whoever these people were recon was not their primary objective. Most spies would try to remain hidden at all costs. Only showing themselves when it's appropriate.

Meaning they didn't mind being seen and that observation wasn't the main reason for following. What's the point of observation if your target knows your there? Second it told him that if these people were willing to be seen they were most likely prepared to get physical with them.

"Grab my blade." He told Elena as he spotted a motorcycle taking off after them. Elena reached back to grab his bag as he turned into an alley. If there were any other tails behind him they'd need to follow him single file through the narrow alley. Unfortunately these people were a step ahead of him this time. A truck pulled up in front of the alley blocking their escape.

"Shit." Kayaku cursed hitting the breaks and stopping the car before he slammed into the barricading truck. He didn't know what to expect next but if this turned into a shootout he was ill prepared. His mako enhanced body and SOLDIER training had enhanced himself beyond any normal human. But a bullet is a bullet and even if he could dodge several and deflect a few with his sword eventually one would have his name on it.

In the end bullets were faster than him he was just good at getting out of its way before the gun fired or directing the blade of his sword to its path. His reflexes were razor sharp and his brain could processes images faster than humanly possible. But he couldn't imagine winning this fight with just his sword. And that scenario was if it was just him in this fight. Elena wasn't armed and he couldn't guarantee he could procure her or even himself a gun before one of them got shot or killed.

"So now what?" Elena asked turning around to see the men leave their cars handguns drawn and aimed.

Kayaku sighed and pulled out a cigarette lighting it damning the no smoking rules for their rental. "Too bad the rental service didn't have any armored vehicles." He said.

As a spy you're trained to win at all costs. You play dirty and break all the rules you need to in order to complete your mission and get out alive. You think outside the box and try to remain ten steps ahead of the enemy but when the chips are down you can't always have a good hand. Eventually you need accept that you've lost this hand.

Kayaku opened the window and dropping his blade. "We fold." he said stepping out raising his hands. "We give." He told the men being sure not to make any sudden moves. The men approached him and before long he was being forced onto his knees and having a black bag shoved over his head and his hands being handcuffed.

His captors led him around and shoved him into a van he could feel Elena next to him. "So we fold." She said with a sigh.

"For now." Kayaku said.

…..

"Well shit." Cid said looking through the binoculars at the icy valley below. "I guess I'd make sense for old Barret to disappear here." He said focusing on the small buildings erected up. "Looks like those Deepground bastards decided to set up shop on this little ice cube."

"You think Barret's even alive?" Cloud asked scanning the landscape.

"Well we're not leaving until we find out." Vincent said loading the rounds into his Cerberus. The weapon felt light to him without his silver charm hanging from it. He trusted that Yuffie was taking care of it right now. He wanted to see her, talk to her.

He didn't know where things were going with her but they could no longer be avoided. He was done denying his ever-growing feelings towards the young kunoichi. Or better put he could no longer deny his growing feeling. But right now he needed to focus on Cissnei and Barret.

"I could sneak in." Vincent said holstering his revolver.

"Alone?" Cloud asked. "I don't think so. Even if they're alive in there do you really think you can get Barret out of there alone without any help? I'm coming with you Vincent but stealth isn't really my forte."

"There's too many for the two of us to fight." Vincent reasoned.

"We can have Cid cover us in the Shera." Cloud suggested looking at him.

Cid put the binoculars down. "Sure thing." He said lighting a cigarette. "One fucking problem blondie." He growled. "That little outpost down here has anti-air guns and surface to air missile launchers."

"Doesn't the Shera have decoy chaff in case of all that?" Cloud asked.

"For missiles yes." Cid said. "But dropping decoy chaff doesn't protect me against flak. Those anti-aircraft guns will still tear me to shreds."

"So then we'll take them out." "Cloud said. "We'll ride in and hit them hard and fast and clear the way for the Shera."

"Good thing I've got a few snowmobiles in the cargo bay." Cid said flicking his half-finished cigarette into the snow.

"Alright." Vincent said taking a step back onto the airship. "I'll go get some bigger guns."