I know that times are hard at the moment and there are people doing their best to make it better. We can help by doing our bit. Follow the rules, stay indoors and stay safe.

Thanks for reading. xx

Chapter 2.

Cloud woke a few hours later. With a groan he slowly sat up and took a mental inventory: no broken bones just slight bruising. Great.

Looking down at himself he found that his outer garments had been removed leaving him in his black turtleneck vest, combat pants, gloves and boots. Sitting back against the wall he took in his new home for the time being.

It was a small room with a single bed wedged against the back wall, a stool and desk sat along the wall on the right while a small locker stood on the left side. There was a door opposite the bed, with a creak it opened.

It was one of the gorillas from earlier. "Awake then? Good. Commander wants to see you, cutie." Cloud narrowed his eyes at the rope in the guards hands. He shrugged. "Orders is orders. You gonna come quietly?"

He sighed holding out his wrists, "Do I have a choice?"

The gorilla barked out a laugh. "Oh I like you!"

A moment later and Cloud found himself being led down a dimmly lit corridor. The gorillas twin joined them, coming up behind making sure he had no way out.

The trio entered a large open area and the noise level went silent. Many sets of eyes glued onto the new prisioner. Cloud blinked at the many different kinds of animals around. There were so many, from the smallest (a family of mice were sitting around reading old books.) to the largest, (an elephant was lifting weights in a corner, giving him the stink-eye.). There was a group of tigers huddled infront of a large bank of computer screens. They appeared to be talking to someone seated at the desk, but the chair was so big he couldn't see who it was.

One of the tigers caught the twins gaze. They bent low and whispered to the person clacking away at the key-board. A muffled conversation later the tiger straightened and nodded at the gorillas.

With a shove Cloud found himself forced down another passageway and into another room. One of the gorillas switched on the light. A single bulb revealed a lone chair facing away from the door. Cloud frowned, so they were playing this game. Fine. He'll play along...for now. The other guard placed a meaty hand on his shoulder, pushing him down into the wooden chair in the middle of the room. He then reached around Cloud to tie his hands behind his back. Cloud tried the ropes, they were tight, but not tight enough to cut skin. He wouldn't be leaving any-time soon.

The pair of monkeys stepped back to admire their handy work and nodded to each other.

"You sit tight, cutie. Boss will be here soon."

With booming laughter they closed and locked the door behind them, leaving Cloud to sit there and ponder his next move.

It was a while before the door opened and closed behind him. Cloud could sense them walking around in the shadows.

A beat and then they spoke, "Who are you?" Their voice seemed off. It took him a second to place it. They were using a voice modulator? Why? "Who are you?" They asked again. When he didn't reply, they sighed deeply. "Fine. We'll try something else." Another beat, "Name. Rank. Number."

Cloud's head snapped up, "Cloud Strife. SOLDIER. 1st Class." He made a face, Damn it!

"A soldier? Interesting. What are you doing here?"

"I got lost. There was a storm...Bright lights...and then I was here."

"Hmm... Bright lights? Discribe them to me."

"It was like normal lighting. But I felt like it was targeting me. A bolt hit the road dead infront of me and I couldn't stop in time. I was enveloped by the light, but it didn't burn like lighting. It was tingly and warm. When the light died down I found myself here."

"That was no ordinary storm. The bright lights were a dimenional breach. A portal."

"So...Where am I? And who are you?"

"You...You are where you are meant to be. "

"That's not an answer."

A huff of amusement. "Funny guy, huh?"

A head shake, "No."

"Shame. Time's like these we need more joy in the world."

"And where in the world is here?"

"Hmm...If we're gonna play this game, then we should do it face to face."

A smirk, "Are you sure that wise?"

"No, but it's been a long day and I'm tired. I'm gonna let you go now. No funny nonsense. Eyes down." Cloud lowered his head. From the darkness came the softest click of mechinery being turned off, a sigh and then the light thuds of approaching footsteps. They went behind him and Cloud felt the ropes around his hands loosen and fall.

Cloud brought his hands to rest in his lap and kept his eyes low. He waited until the footsteps were close enough, and he could see the toes of a pair of dusty red boots that he dared to look up.

From the red boots, his eyes journeyed up a pair of legs covered in faded purple leggings, the hem of a tunic in violet-red to a brown belt fasten around a thin waist. A moment and then he continued: from the belt the top half of the tunic curved in a way that had his cheeks flushing slightly... He blinked and then looked up to fully face his host and felt his face warm as the blush intensified.

Yep. Definately female.

A vision stood infront of him. She had rose-pink fine fur, light peach arms, muzzle and inner ears. Her hair (of the same pink hue as her fur) was pulled back into a messy braid, a few loose strands framed her face, three thick ones made up her fringe. When he reached her eyes his own widened at their colour.

Jade.

He had only seen that shade once before...

Before he could stop it, his whole body relaxed and a tiny smile appeared on his lips. "Hello, " he found himself saying.

In response, a gentle smile crossed her features. "Hello. I'm Amelia Rose, Commander of this Base."

"You're the...Really?" She lifted a brow challangingly. He raised his hands in surrender. "I can be good. So...Amelia?" She nodded. "Care to tell me what's going on."

She nodded, helping him to his feet (she came to just shy of his elbow standing side by side) and knocking on the door to be let out. The gorilla twins were surprised to see that he was still standing and unharmed but a glare from Amelia sent them packing.

Grabbing his hand she led him down yet another corridor, (how big was this base?) "If you're here that means she's worked out the kinks, and that means something bad is gonna happen. As Commander, I can't let it. We have a lot to talk about, Mr Cloud. It's gonna be a long night..."

In the giant Egg Dome at the center of the citidel, seated in front of their own bank of computer screens, a petite figure watched and re-watched the video feed from the SWAT-BOTS that had been destroyed a few hours ago. Their glasses glinted in the light, a smile grew on their lips as they replayed the final seconds before the second BOT was sliced in half.

"What a specimen. Such power, such skill!" They cackled in delight, clapping tiny hands as the BOT went down. "Look at him. LOOK AT HIM!" They squeaked happily as the dying camera caught the new-comers face close up, his spiky hair, rather handsome features, his bright blue eyes... "Wait a second...Is that..?" They manipulated controls and zoomed in on the strangers eyes. Their own eyes widened behind dark tinted glasses. "It is..." The grin on their face widened showing perfect white teeth. "...Mako..."

Stay safe everyone. xx