Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to FF7, or their characters or, places ect... all I own is Xaen, Reverance, Warrent, Nobe, Smythe, and some others...

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"Well? Are you gonna answer me or just stand there, like an idiot, and wait for me to free myself and strangle you?" I asked the man standing in front of me, I thought my tone was rather polite, considering my current situation. This man, by the looks of him, was a doctor. Though it didn't look like he tried really hard to make himself presentable to the public. He wore a rather dirty and wrinkled suit, and looked as if he hadn't had any sleep for the past few days.

"Um, greetings, my name is Doctor Nobe." the doctor stuttered. I noticed him look back and check that his guards were still out side the door. Even though I was only 17 years old, and the doctor looked to be mid-thirties, he seemed intimidated. *Hmm they feel I'm dangerous* I thought. This could be used as an advantage, but I would have to be careful. I still did not even know where I was.

"Well, Doctor Nobe," I used emphasis on his name and title, "I would appreciate an explanation, as to why I am here and why have I been {looks down} detained?"

"Well, what did you say your name was?" he asked me.

"I didn't, it is Xaen." (Pronounced zain)

"Well, Xaen, for the past few weeks I have been working, along with everyone here at Vagrant Industries, to find a way to stop the terrorists who are destroying our world."

Not impressed I stare at him allowing him to continue. *Vagrant Inc.? Sounds a little shady*

As if reading my mind Nobe continued his explanation with, "Vagrant Inc. was named and started as a private company that world leaders could come to if they had trouble with... well... "Vagrants."

"Don't nations have their own sects and armies to take care of "vagrants"?"

"We are here to take on the extreme cases and allow nations not to lose face in dealings with other nations. You know, keep it all under raps."

*Sounds logical* "Ok, now I follow, but you still have yet to answer why I'm here or..." {looks down again}

"I'm getting there, I'm getting there," he said defensively, "Lately we have been working against one of the aforementioned "vagrants." I have just created a materia *Materia? Could this... no... maybe?* that I had hoped would help us win against these terrorists. I call this materia, "Planar" materia." Saying all of this seemed to make him feel braver, more in control.

"When I first tried to use this materia," he continued, "it felt as if it needed more spiritual power than any one person could muster, so I constructed a machine to facilitate its needs. When I finally used my creation the machine suffered from a power overload and exploded. You were found amongst the rubble. All I could assume was that the Planar materia brought you here. From where I do not know, so we could not take any chances."

"So you tied me down," I stated.

"Yes."

"These terrorists that we are currently dealing with have already destroyed entire cities and assassinated many an important person over the last few months. That's why I used the materia and... well, summoned you."

He came over and unlocked my legs from the leather straps. "Um, where am I?" I asked.

"We are at a secret base, at the bottom of a lake surrounded by mountains." he rattled off "Your room is right down the hall on the right. I promise, no straps." he smiled warmly at me. "By the way, where are you from?"

"I, uh, don't remember," I lied.

"Oh, must be hard on you, all this information at once. I'm sure you will adjust." Nobe said. "Memory loss seems to be a side effect. Do you know the date or year?"

"No, I can't... I can't remember," I said going along with the lie I started.

"Well, just so you know today is the 18th of June. If you want, you can go and check out your room now," he offered.

"Yea, I think I'll go and do that," I said and started to turn to walk down the hall.

Once I reach about half way to my room Doctor Nobe yelled back to me, "Xaen?"

"Yeah?"

"You start combat testing tomorrow."

"What?"

"Well, I have to see what the materia really brought me."

"Um... Ok." *Well he is a scientist*

So I started back to my room. I started to wonder about the conversation. *"Memory loss seems to be a side effect"? Does that mean he has done this before? I don't think he is telling me everything. Maybe I am suspected of being a spy? Oh who cares? WHY AM I HERE?* "Ungh... Now I've started to ramble. I hate thinking," I said aloud.

As I opened my door I started to scan my room. It had two port hole style windows, from which you could see the ocean floor. It also contained a bed, a desk and matching chair, a closet, a bathroom, and a trunk to store things in. The whole room was a darker shade of white, but not yet grey.

I strode in and fell onto my bed. I took a long deep breath and then something in the corner of the room caught my eye. It was a weapons rack. I looked it over and saw nothing on it except a small green button. *What is this?* Naturally I couldn't help but press it and a voice came from within the machine, "Choose your primary weapon."

I couldn't help myself.

"I always wanted a PSG-1 sniper rifle." I said smiling to myself not really believing what I was seeing. Just then a small LCD screen slid out from a hidden panel and displayed:

Primary 1 -- Sniper Rifle ~ Sharp shooter 1SXM

*Hey! Didn't I say PSG1?*

"Please select secondary weapon," the machine instructed.

"Hmmmm broadsword."

Under the first entry a second appeared.

Secondary 1 --Broadsword ~LT.mmg

*Oh, those ARE the models. Ok, wasn't sure for a moment. Probably as close as they could get to what I asked for.*

"Please Select support item" the machine instructed once again.

"Grenade?" I said kinda confused.

It must have accepted it because under the Secondary line it wrote:

Support 1 -- Grenade ~ Frag

*Hah! I know what a frag grenade is!* I thought to myself, quite pleased.

"Now, aren't we eager?" a voice asked from behind.

This made me jump around and almost tackle the guy right then and there.

"HEY, woah wait a minute, didn't I see you in that holding room?" I inquired my surprise ebbing away, "Weren't you one of those guards?"

"Yes, I was there, but no I am Doctor Nobe's assistant not a lowly guard. My name is Smythe and you already seem to have your combat weapons chosen so my job is done, good bye," Smythe the assistant informed me.

"Wait!"

"Yes?"

"Nothing...never mind," I said, I was about to ask him "Where am I and why am I here," but I would probably get the same answers as I did from Nobe.

"Thank you," he bowed him self out of my room.

Just then I realized I should have asked about where I fit in with their plan. I mean if I was gonna help them destroy dangerous terrorists I'd like to know a little bit more about them!

I ran after Smythe, running down two halls and into a door on the right. I stopped at the door he had just walked into and I had a feeling I should just listen in on this one.

"You showed him where to pick up his weapons?" a voice said that sounded like Doctor Nobe.

"Yes, he had already picked them out when I arrived." said the other voice that was Smythe.

"Hopefully this one will turn out better than the last. This time it looks like the Planar materia picked out a real fighter. Now we should be able to finally destroy those planet protecting, mako haters! Yes finally this new situation looks to allow a far more promising end for Cloud and the rest of the fools of Avalanche," Doctor Nobe was very pleased and sounded nothing like what I had heard earlier.

I ran back to my room, closed the door and leaned back against it. *I'm being used?* I slide down to the floor and tuck my knees up under my crossed arms. *Wait!* I thought realizing part of what was going on. I had played the game so many times before and now it really struck me. *I'm in Final Fantasy 7? Fight Avalanche? No, I'll wait until I encounter them then join them, seeing as I do know that they are not terrorists. Yea, that will show Nobe to try and use me! But who are all these new characters? What is going on here? This isn't part of the game at all!* I turned around and punched the door hard. *What is going on?! And damn, that hurt.* After nursing my hand and dulling the pain I went and sat on my bed.

The weapon rack caught my eye again. It had the weapons I listed set neatly in place, with all the materials needed to use them! It had a scope and a stand for the rifle and a vest that had places for the grenades and two circular magnets on the back. I assume they are used as a magnetic sheath for the sword. (looks like this ==O=O=}xxxo across the back so your right hand could pull it down and off.) The magnets were adjustable too! Where did they come from?

The building's alarm system started up wailing and out of the speakers came, "Intruder Alert, Intruder Alert, All available soldiers to the Submarine Dock number 3!"

*Didn't Cloud and them have a sub?*

I jumped and turned around as a knock came from my dented door.

"Yea?" I yelled over the alarm racket.

"Xaen," it was Nobe, "grab your weapons we have a problem."

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(I thought this one was all right. Please R&R and tell me of anything do like more describing or thoughts or dialog. Oh and yes next chapter does have fighting.)