By the second day since he'd woken, Cloud was actually fairly alert and coherent, though it was clear he was going to need some therapy to adjust to his new enhancements. Zack was estimating him around Third Class level, to go by his eyes and his fumbling with new strength and senses, and that was always a learning curve. Fortunately, all the SOLDIERs there had been through that already. He would have ample help adjusting.

"When can we get out of here?" Zack asked. "I've gone home with worse injuries than this, it's just a bad cut now. She said we're both stable, so as long as someone's with us I don't see why we have to be here."

"I'll ask," Kunsel promised. He certainly would rather take Zack home. No one liked medical, and he knew it was making Zack and Cloud especially uneasy after weeks trapped in a lab.

"Thanks, babe." Zack sighed. "At least we're not stuck in hospital gowns."

"Small mercies," he agreed.

"Hey, man, I'll take it." Zack shook his head. "And the guys keep sneaking us real food, which is great. I don't think I could survive on the regular stuff here, I really don't. I mean, I paid my dues in bootcamp, I have had enough of mess-quality food. Just because SOLDIERs can eat anything doesn't mean they should have to."

"I hear you." Kunsel chuckled.

"And speaking of, I smell… eggs. And cheese. And sausage," Zack said, perking up.

"Quiche," Aerith informed him. "Cissnei let me use her oven."

"Bless her." Zack made grabby hands.

"Patience," she scolded. "Cloud, are you up honey?"

"'M awake," he murmured, yawning widely and sitting up.

"Just barely, I see." She chuckled, handing over a plate with a generous slice. "Here. Breakfast."

"Ooh? Thank you," he said, looking a little more awake with something to focus on.

Zack and Kunsel were quick to thank her for their portions, Zack digging in to his immediately.

Aerith chuckled, watching them. "I might just feed you again."

"Yes please," Zack said around a rather large bite, too hot to swallow right away but refusing to spit it out.

"It's really good," Cloud said.

"Good. You all could use it," she said, drifting over to stand beside Cloud, absently rubbing his back.

He leaned towards her with a quiet sound, taking comfort in her presence and the quiet background buzz of her thoughts. "So what are you up to today?"

"I need to talk to Veld," Aerith said. "I'm not sure how long that will take, so I wanted to stop in here first."

"I'm glad you did," Kunsel said.

"I bet you are." She chuckled. "You all can finish that and give the pan back to Cissnei when you're done, if I don't come back first."

"Will do. She's on guard today?" Kunsel asked.

"I don't know, but I'm sure she'll drop by," she said. "I know Balto is."

He nodded. "Yeah, I think he's got a permanent standing here."

"Might as well, the way he fusses," Zack said. "As if he didn't just like, fall off the edge of the earth for years without so much as a by-the-by. It's no big deal when he's supposedly dead."

Kunsel snorted, amused. "It's always easier to hold someone else to a standard."

"I guess." Zack sighed.

"There's been entirely too much of this 'I thought you were dead' going around," Aerith said, scowling.

"Yeah, not that we want people to be dead, but I'd rather not think that in the first place," Kunsel said.

"You're looking for someone else?" Cloud ventured, looking to Aerith. He looked a little embarrassed when she glanced at him. "Your thoughts get loud when you're worked up."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Aerith sighed. "Yes. I'm… well. I want to help Veld, even if I'm still mad at him."

"With his daughter?" Kunsel asked. "I was there when he found out, in Nibelheim."

"Oh. Yes, her." Aerith nodded. "He's figured out how to track her, but they left Midgar so it's going to be difficult to track her down until they get to Junon."

"Junon's a big city to find a single person who doesn't want to be found," Kunsel said.

"I guess they know where a lot of the hideouts she'd use are," Aerith said.

"…the head of the Turks' daughter is in AVALANCHE?" Cloud blurted, eyes wide, and Aerith winced. "Oh, uhm. Sorry."

"Seriously?" Kunsel arched a brow, whistling softly. "No wonder he's kept quiet. How'd she fall in with them?"

"He doesn't know. I'm not sure it was voluntary," Aerith admitted. "But he wants to talk to her, at least. Find out what's going on, and try to talk her down."

"Scuttlebutt says one of AVALANCHE's leaders was killed," Kunsel said. "I'm not surprised they've gone to ground. How's he tracking her?"

"She apparently has a very powerful, semi-active materia with her," Aerith said. "A summon."

"And you can feel summons when they're active," Zack said. "And magic in general, but especially summons."

"Really?" Cloud said. "Is that a SOLDIER thing?"

"I think it's a mage thing," Kunsel said. "Or anyone who has enough exposure."

"Like SOLDIER," Zack said. "More than Turks, I'd think."

"They've got Sense materia and I think someone's rigging a device to help use that on a larger scale," Aerith said.

"Seems dicey," Zack said, frowning. He looked at Kunsel. "Our guys would stand a better chance, especially if she uses that summon."

Kunsel arched a brow. "Are you suggesting we do something about it?"

"I mean, I'm not an AVALANCHE fan but… he helped us," Zack said.

"Pay the debt," Kunsel said. "Yeah, okay. I can ask around, I guess."

"You should talk to him first," Aerith said. "I can let him know you're willing to work with him, though."

"Do that," Kunsel said. "And I'll make some discreet inquiries. We've still got some pretty good mages left."

"I'd do it myself but they're not discharging me to active duty, I don't think," Zack said.

"No, not you," Aerith said. "But… some help from SOLDIER might be a good thing, and I don't think he's in a position to turn it down. I'll tell him and have him call you."

"I've got my phone," Kunsel said.

Aerith nodded. "I'll go talk to him."

She kissed Cloud's cheek, giggling when he blushed, and ducked out to immediately find Cissnei waiting. "Heard you want to talk to the Chief."

"…yes?" Aerith blinked. "Is that a problem?"

Cissnei hummed. "I guess we'll find out, won't we?"

"Ominous," she muttered, following her to the elevator.

"Did they like the quiche?" Cissnei asked.

"Of course. SOLDIERs are always hungry." She chuckled. "Quickest way to their hearts is through their stomachs."

"I'll keep it in mind," Cissnei said. She watched the floors climb, silent a moment. "He's in his office with Valentine and Rufus."

Aerith nodded. She wasn't worried about Vincent, but the Vice President… well, it made her a little nervous, despite the Turks' reassurances that they weren't interested in her heritage. Not that she'd openly used any skills that were that were that rare. Not where they'd noticed, at least. "Lead the way."

"Mmhm." Cissnei nodded to her as the doors opened, leading her past a hall of closed doors and down to the open bullpen, where several Turks looked up, some calculating but none surprised.

News, Aerith supposed, traveled fast.

It wasn't much further to Veld's office. A quick knock on the door gained them entry, and Aerith slipped in.

Her first thought was that he looked more tired than she'd seen him in a long time. Not that they'd crossed paths often, but he'd made time, now and then, to slip under the Plate and see her. Usually in the church, to save her mother stress. But he smiled, if faintly, waving her in.

"Aerith, this is Rufus Shinra. Rufus, Aerith Gainsborough," Veld said. "You've met Vincent."

"I have, yes," she agreed. She smiled tentatively at Rufus, getting one back that would have been charming if his name alone didn't make her nervous. She'd have to get over that. "A pleasure."

"Mine as well," Rufus said evenly. "Would you like me to step out for a moment, Veld? Let you… catch up?"

"For a minute," Veld agreed. "Go get some coffee and poke at Tseng a little. He's mapping out locations."

"I'll do that." He rose smoothly, passing by Aerith with a murmured 'excuse me' and ducking out.

Veld waited until the door was closed, arching a brow. "Somehow, I don't think 'what did you do' is an inappropriate question, is it?"

Aerith smiled wryly. "Do you read everyone so well, or is it just me?"

"I've got a talent for it," Veld said. "Comes with the territory."

She sighed, taking a seat. "You know Cloud can hear my thoughts."

He nodded. "I was told, yes."

"I was thinking about helping you with your daughter," she said, watching as he tensed immediately. "But it may have turned out for the better."

Veld arched a brow. "Oh do tell."

"SOLDIER wants to help."