Cloud was still trying to figure out what had happened. Somehow the control he had, vanished with the arrival with the unexpected trio. A dead man, his worst nightmare, and the most dangerous wild creature on his world. Yet he'd spoken with all three. "Damn!"P
Tifa walked in. "What's wrong?"P
Cloud didn't turn around. He too, was watching the night sky. "Everything. My reckless leadership has us trapped here. A friend I though long dead shows up with Sephiroth, and a dragon. Jenova's loose who knows where causing all kinds of trouble. The people of this world don't trust me because of Jenova. And there are things I know, but which I'm sworn not to speak of. If that weren't enough…." Cloud slams his fists against the window. P
Tifa looks on, the concern showing on her face. "It's not your fault. How were you supposed to know that Sephiroth was planing to trap us here. As for Zack, he's got Jenova in him, just like you do right? That's how he must have survived…"P
Neither of them noticed Zack step into the room. "That was how I survived….if you can call it that. I don't know if it was a fair trade…"P
Tifa looks at Zack, then at Cloud. "Perhaps it's best if I let you two speak to each other. I'll go and find the others." Tifa left the room.P
Cloud turns around, and for the first time in years, he looks his friend in the face. "What happened that day?"P
Zack looks at him "That day… The beginning of hell for me. After I was shot, I lay in the rain, waiting to die. I felt you take my sword, and leave. I was happy because I thought I was dead. But that wasn't true. She came. She wouldn't let me die…. I don't know how, but Jenova found me, and her cells within me would not permit me to die."P
Cloud looked at him. He had no idea of what to say. Zack noticed this, but then turned, to look out at the sky. "Since that day, until just a few days ago, she tried to take control. Break me, and Sephiroth, to take control of us too. Everything she did failed. Pain, torture, anger, beatings. She knew how far she could push us without killing us."P
Zack moved to the window. Cloud came up behind him. "How could that be? Jenova was trapped in the Shira building…"P
"No. Not all of her. Sephiroth had freed her head. Jenova's head was there, and that was killing us."P
"How did you get away?"P
"An error on Jenova's part. Somehow the head could move on it's own. When it was too far, Sephiroth, Jenova's Sephiroth, was freed from her control. One of these trips she was gone longer than usual. Sephiroth freed us. He told us to run, and how to escape. We did. Latter, Aries came to us for a few minutes. She sent the two of us here, saying that we'd be needed in this battle. She knew that Jenova would come this way…"P
"…And sent you here to help us?"P
"Yes. I know it must be hard to believe. I lived through it, and I still find it hard to believe. But Sephiroth saved my life. We've survived together even since I was taken. I don't know if either of us could have survived without the other."P
Cloud didn't answer. There was nothing he could say that would help. His friend, the one he though years dead, was alive. The man he hated, may be the only one who could help fight this battle. Only, the man he hated had a brother. His brother was not the one responsible, but to Cloud, they were still the same.P
"I guess we have no choice. For both worlds."P
Zack looked over at him. "Cloud… I know how hard this must be for you. I couldn't believe it at first either. But, it is Jenova who's at the heart of this problem. Not Sephiroth. I hope you understand that. Sephiroth wants to save his brother, even if the only way is death."P
Zack turned to leave. "Good night Cloud…my friend."P
Cloud was left alone with his thoughts.P
PHR
Author's note: This is where stuff begins to make sense. Zack and Cloud aren't sure how to react, and Sephiroth is not comfortable around any of them. So how can this unusual group learn to work together? Wait and see….
