Cloud awoke, dazed and slightly confused. He expected to be surrounded by Turks. Instead he was in a room all by himself. The blonde gets up and checks the door.

No bodyguard.

Good. Now is your chance to escape.

Sephiroth? What's happening? He sensed a panic within his mate. Something disturbed him. Thus Cloud began to feel the panic spread within himself as well.

Easy. I don't know yet. But they're onto me.

What did you do?

We'll talk later. Right now you need to get away. Soon as you're out of their grasp they can't hold you against me.

Cloud didn't understand why the company would do that, but he placed his trust in his mate anyways. A part of him realized he was believing blindly. However when his heart belonged to someone then that bond couldn't be shaken. It could be this whole bond thing or an omega and alpha mates thing. Either way Cloud wasn't going to question his mate.

So he began his search for an exit. Unknowingly he was being watched by the cameras with the Turks keeping track of his movements.

"Think this will work?" Tseng inquired, eyes never straying from the screen before him.

"I'm working on it." Dr. Aerith checked the sample underneath the microscope.

"I don't like this, yo. Leaving too much to chance." Reno shook his head.

"This is the safer option, and you know it! If we didn't let him roam then he would be raising hell and cut down everyone in his way. We don't have anyone on base to fend of both Sephiroth and Cloud at the same time." Aerith snapped.

"Yeah, yeah." The redhead sighed.

"In the meantime we can use the machines to slow Cloud down." Tseng held up a key card that had a certain blonde face on it. "He won't be recognized by their security systems."

"Well it's something at least." Rude commented.

"Tch. Like that'll do much. I watched him take down a freaking Bahamut."

"Even so, it's better than sending in Zack."

"Right."

"When you feel the moment is right, make your move Valentine." Tseng glanced at the gunslinger.

"... I will once she's done with her goal." His deep red gaze stayed glued to the security feed.

"Not to put pressure, but make it happen ASAP, Dr."

"Sometimes I wonder why I put up with you lot." Aerith shook her head.

"Cause you love us." Reno winked.

"Hmm. No. Not really."

Her shooting him down earned a few soft snickers.

xXx

"Stop! Reveal your key card in order to proceed."

"Huh? Since when did this security measure began?" Cloud searches his pockets. "The hell?"

The Turk took it. Sephiroth caught on.

"Of course." Cloud sighed. Well, good thing he located his sword in some random office. He pulled it out and began his onslaught against the huge fight bot.

Some robot slaying later Cloud stood victorious. He began to wonder why they hadn't any security troopers to swarm in after him yet. Or any SOLDIERs for that matter.

They're saving them for when I arrive.

But why? No one is strong enough to take you down. Unless maybe Zack, but I don't see him stepping up to the plate.

He's loyal to the company to the bone.

Then what do I do? I don't want you to fight him.

Let me work on that plan, then. Sephiroth could sense his mate's turmoil.

In the meantime, go find a means to escape.

"Okay." Cloud felt his instincts flare up, but he went against them and placed his trust in his mate.

It took a while to locate a key card that will let him in the elevators. There he had discovered he was on the 69th floor. Odd. That was Hojo's floor wasn't it? Whatever, Cloud shook his head. He pressed the button to go down.

He reached the 64th floor. The lobby was quiet. Cloud exited the elevator and made his way to find the entrance to the stairs. Before he could get very far he ran into Zack.

Immediately the two stopped, tense and ready for action.

"What do you know of what's going on?" Cloud glared.

"Easy, Spike. I haven't been told anything."

"Then why the fuck you tense up for? Why are you ready to fight?"

"Because I don't know what's going on either!"

An elevator dinged. Two figures were approaching. One Cloud could barely hear the whoosh of a cape. Only one person he knew had a cape. Panic spread. The blonde reached for the handle of his sword. However he hesitated. Heart torn.

Cloud. Do you trust me?

"Sephiroth?" Cloud turned to the glass windows. His mate was close at hand.

Do you trust me?

What an odd question to ask.

"Yes." And suddenly there was darkness. A blink of an eye Cloud was having an out of body experience. He watched as his body switched to his left hand. His eyes opened up to reveal murderous green hues with slit irises.

"You...?" Zack backed away, confusion on his face. Even so his hand was on the handle of his own weapon.

Cerberus pressed against blonde spikes. The Cloud possessed Sephiroth glared icily.

"You really think you can defeat me?"

"No, but she can drive you out of him."

Without warning Dr. Aerith jabbed Cloud's neck with a syringe. Sephiroth grunted with surprise. The omega's body was reduced to his knees. Pain seared through both mates. Suddenly in a flash Cloud was in control of his body again. But there was one drastic change.

"What the hell did you do?!" Cloud regained his footing to glare at her. She backed up and Vincent stood between them.

"Cloud, I'm so sorry." Her eyes pleaded.

"The fuck did you do?!" He couldn't sense his mate anymore. The bond was severed.

Outside a helicopter was spinning out of control. Cloud ran to the glass window and watched as the chopper crashed at ground floor level just feet away from the entrance. There was no doubt in his mind who the passenger was.

"Sephiroth!"