Side Note: Would be ever so nice to get reviews from people I do not know personally. I actually don't know if anyone is reading this story besides two of my LOYAL friends. Oh you know who you are. Anyways, on with the story

Within thirty minutes the three had left the bar (a "closed for a really long time" sign now hung on the door) and were now outside the door to Ramul's apartment.

"You look very...suspicious," Siro said to Aria. And she did. She had left her bar outfit behind and now wore her "fighting clothes". These were skintight black leather, with straps, metal buckles and very threatening boots. To top this all off she wore her bow strapped onto her back. She had tied her hair back and now slinked along like a ninja through the dark night, quite possible attracting more attention then she would have were she on fire.

"Shut up," she said. "I can't do any sneaking or fighting in my dress can I?"

"Where the hell did you get that anyways?" asked Ramul.

"Gift from Daddy," she responded brightly.

"I swear to god," said Siro. "If he didn't raise you I would say that he was a bad influence on you."

"Whatever," she said. "Ramul, did you find your keys?"

Ramul, who had been digging through the compartments of his gloves, finally pulled out a battered key with triumph. He fit it into the keyhole and opened the door.

He was greeted by a loud snarl and before he knew what was happening he was smashed down the stairs by a sleek, black blur.

Ramul now lay on his back, pinned down by Dark Nation, who bared his fangs, snarling viciously.

"I thought you gave him enough tranquilizer!" shouted Siro, jumping down the stairs to assist Ramul. "I'm never listening to you again."

"Just shut up and help me!" Ramul yelled.

"WHO?!" the cry was loud and harsh, and it came from Dark Nation. All present froze in confusion.

"What?" said Aria. "You didn't say he could talk!"

"Um..." Siro said dumbly. "We-uh-didn't know?"

"WHY?!" the shouts were slurred but clearly very angry. The creature shook its head in a frustrated sort of anger. But suddenly he sniffed the air and looked down at Ramul inquisitively.

"Remember smell," Dark Nation said, his voice softer and slightly harder to understand. "You help?"

"Yeah!" said Ramul. "Killing us would be very not good!"

"Thank you," said Dark Nation, backing off.

Ramul sat up and looked at the animal, suddenly very curious. "His powers of deduction are phenomenal!"

"He *is * a lab rat, Ramul," said Siro, still in a tensed position. "He isn't a normal animal."

"Where Rufus?" asked Dark Nation. "Dead?"

It was Aria's turn to talk now, it seemed she had some sort of plan and chose her words very carefully. "Rufus has abandoned you, Dark Nation," she said. "We are friends."

"Friends?" it asked, bewildered.

"Yes," she said. "And we could use your help."

"Wait, wait!" Said Siro. "You're not thinking-"

"Want help!" said Dark Nation, now starting to look a lot like a giant puppy in his mannerisms. "You help, I help!"

"This is a poor idea," said Siro.

"No, it's a good idea," said Aria. "Otherwise the poor thing has nowhere to go, and it could help us."

"She has a point," said Ramul.

Siro smacked his forehead. "Man, what a weird night..." he backed down. "Alright, he can come along, but can we at least pretend we aren't waltzing around with the pet of the president's son?"

"We can rename him," said Ramul, shrugging. Dark Nation peered around curiously, not looking nearly as vicious as he used to.

"You're right, Dark Nation's too hard to say anyways," said Siro.

"How about 'Shadow'" asked Aria. She bent down fearlessly and patted the Blood Taste on his head. "You like that name? Shadow?"

"Shadow?" asked Dark Nation. "Name?"

"Exactly," Aria said. "We'll call you Shadow."

"What about the fact that he is obviously Rufus' pet?" asked Siro incredulously.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," said Aria, standing up.

"Man, that's so not how it works at all!" said Siro. "Well, whatever."

"Well," said Ramul, standing up and brushing himself off. "I'll go get provisions and what not." He walked inside.

Shadow looked up at Siro. "You Siro?" he asked.

"Yeah," said Siro, grinning a bit in spite of himself.

"Me Shadow," said Shadow.

"And I'm Aria," Aria said, smiling brightly. "Pleased to meet you."

"Me help?"

"Yeah," said Siro, scratching the back of his neck. "We'll take care of you."

Ramul walked out, carrying two full simple military backpacks. "Here," he said, tossing one at Siro.

"Oof," Siro caught it. "So, what's our plan? All the exits of the city are monitored."

"Don't worry," said Ramul, tapping his metal head. "It's all up here."

"Well, whatever," said Siro. "But if it's like any of your other brilliant plans I think-"

"Wait!" said Aria nervously. "Look over there!"

She pointed down the street where three forms were seen walking under a streetlight. They were MP's, dressed in the simple red uniform of Shinra. By the time they got to Ramul's apartment there was no one on the porch.

"Man, first those reactors blow and then the plate falls, now this?" One MP said in an annoyingly high voice.

"I dunno, but why are we bothering to look for these Ex-Shinras?" Another responded.

The four could hear the MP's clearly as they walked by from their hiding place under the porch.

"Okay, enquiry," whispered Siro. "Ramul, why didn't we just go inside?"

"Shhh!" said Ramul.

"Why hide?" asked Shadow curiously.

"SHHHH!"

"Hey, did you hear something?" said the third MP.

"Not a damned thing," responded the second. "I'm sick of this, its ridiculous. Like looking for a chocobo feather in a hay stack!"

"I'm bored, let's go get a drink."

"Noted."

"Hey," whispered Siro. "That's my phrase."

The four waited under the porch until it all looked clear. Ramul's goggles switched to heat sensor and he waved that it was okay.

"Well," said Siro. "Looks like we know who they're looking for now."

"Let's go," said Ramul, taking off into the alley by the side of his house. Aria and Siro followed him into the dark.

"C'mon Shadow!" Said Aria.

"KAY!" shouted Shadow with a bit too much excitement. And he took off after them.