A/N: I just recently got into Final Fantasy VII. It's been so much fun playing through the original and learning about all the characters in the expanded universe. Currently playing through the remake. I have a couple ideas on how I want to explore this story. I'd like to focus on Midgar and stay as close to canon as possible, but add in a couple twists along the way.

Zack

He didn't know how he ended up here. There was no way Sephiroth would have let him live after what happened in Nibelheim, and yet here he was. Floating in a tank that made everything on the outside look green. Mako, he assumed.

Around him he saw the other villagers in their own tanks. Zack could see that they were not doing very well. Mako was not available to the general public for a reason. The substance was dangerous, and most people did not adapt to it well. Shinra kept a tight hold on their stock. They only used it sparingly on people who had displayed higher than average mental and physical capabilities.

Zack began scanning the room. Only one other person was awake in their tank, and he was right next to him. Cloud. Somehow, he had survived too. He felt a rush of relief. Cloud went after Sephiroth with the Buster Sword after Zack was defeated. The only possible conclusion for their survival was that Cloud managed to kill Sephiroth. Damn, that kid had more going on for him than he realized.

Cloud did not look good right now though. Although he was awake, it was clear that the Mako was affecting him. Cloud struggled to breathe. Zack tried to get his attention by tapping on the container, but it was futile. Cloud had never been exposed to Mako before, it was a miracle he was even awake.

"Well well well...," came a drawling voice, "looks like our guests of honor are finally up. Let's get started on Project S Phase 1."

Zack recognized the man. He had seen professor Hojo walking down the halls in the Shinra building since he had started there. His reputation preceded himself, known to be one of the reasons Shinra heavily invested in Mako research. Zack had heard rumors about his temperament and always tried to avoid interacting with the man.

"Mr. Fair and Mr. Strife here somehow managed to defeat my greatest creation. We need to figure out why," he said to the group of scientists in the room.

In the following months a very intense testing schedule was developed around him and Cloud. In the mornings they would be released from the tank and a sample of their blood would be taken. After that they were sent to the gym and their vitals were monitored. Then they were taken to a cell, where they were left alone for a couple hours, before being led back into the Mako tank for the night. Zack tried to resist early on during the time when Cloud was still out of it from Mako poisoning, but quickly learned what would happen when he disobeyed. Cloud would pay the price.

The villagers were mostly left alone in their tanks. They were branded with something on their arms and it looked like they were used as a conduit to grow some of Hojo's experimental cells. As time went on, Hojo kept muttering to himself about cells growth failures. Zack and Cloud saw the villagers being taken out of their tanks, but to where they had no idea. Every time this happened Zack saw Cloud grow disheartened. These were the people he had grown up with, even though Cloud told Zack they were never very close.

The times when Zack and Cloud were left alone was something they both began to look forward to. They talked about a lot of things, trying to keep sane. Cloud needed this more than Zack, clinging onto his stories as a lifeline, and Zack found himself opening up to him. Cloud was a good listener.

Over what felt like a year, Zack had noticed that their Mako dosage was increased regularly. It was so strong that even Zack was beginning to feel the effects. He could only imagine what Cloud must've been feeling, as someone who never made the cut for SOLDIER. When Hojo did not find anything beyond ordinary in them, apart from their ability to process these large amounts of Mako, he seemed more and more determined to get some type of results.

Once Zack and Cloud stopped trying to fight what was happening to them, they were given some freedom to pick their schedules. Zack took it on himself to teach Cloud how to fight with a sword during their gym sessions sometimes. They were trying to make the best of a horrible situation, and sparring together kept them both engaged.

"That's it Cloud, come on. Keep it up. Hold your sword steady."

"I'm trying Zack," panted Cloud.

The Mako was really affecting Cloud's stamina today. It was difficult to predict how the substance would affect him on a daily basis. Sometimes it made Cloud insanely powerful, other times it would just weaken him. Today seemed to be a bad day.

"Come on Spike, I know you can do more than this," said Zack.

Cloud tried to pull himself together. The scientists were observing from the top floor. Suddenly there was a noticeable change in Cloud. His eyes glowed green. His next attack was so strong it knocked Zack to his feet, his head hitting the hard cement. There was a stunned silence that followed.

"I'm so sorry Zack. I don't know where that came from," said Cloud.

"Don't be, I'm alright," said Zack getting off the floor, taking Cloud's hand to help himself up.

"Excellent progress Specimen S. Looks like you both are finally ready to move on to Phase 2," said Hojo through the speakers.

Zack and Cloud looked at each other with trepidation. That did not sound good.

They were right, it was not good. Not only was the Mako dosage doubled, but they were also injected with what Hojo called J cells. Whatever they were, they were affecting Cloud a lot. Their gym sessions had stopped during this time when it became clear that Cloud could barely stand. Hojo had left Zack and Cloud alone in their cell. Zack was doing everything he could to make Cloud comfortable, but nothing seemed to work. The J cells were taking a hold of his mind in uncomfortable ways. They also kept Cloud in a constant near-delirious state day in and day out. Somehow Hojo seemed pleased by this and deemed Cloud ready for Phase 3. Zack was told he was a failure and would be left to float in his Mako tank. The J cells were not taking to his body like they did with Cloud. He tried to fight to stay with Cloud but he knew he was powerless. He looked at Cloud in desperation. The last thing he saw before passing out in the tank was Cloud's face, his miserable expression seared in his mind.

Zack woke up to a shattering of glass. Quickly finding his bearings he got himself out of the tank and looked around. He did not know how long he was out for, but it felt like forever. He saw Cloud in the tank next to him, the rest of the lab was empty. This was his chance to get out of this hellhole!

"Food's ready."

Zack didn't give the man who announced this a chance. He knocked the scientist out before he could call for help, got Cloud out of the tank and made his way out to freedom.

"We're getting out Cloud. We're going to be free," he whispered to him. Cloud did not respond.