Warning: Warnings: Extremely cute Cloud, slightly less mild Zack x Seph relationship.
Disclaimer: Don't own them. Again.
Chapter 7: The Materia in Question is….
Cloud shifted nervously as he felt eyes on his back. "Relax," Zack whispered beside him. "These are all potential allies, not threats. Loosen up. You're getting as bad as Seph." THAT remark got him a Seph-level glare. Zack chuckled. He carefully led Cloud over to where a table of SOLDIERs sat. These were some of Zack's group mates. They had entered SOLDIER together and even though Zack had advanced for quicker they had remained friends. "Morning everyone!"
Six pairs of glowing eyes stared at Cloud. "Who's the kid Zack?"
Zack flashed his best smile. "This is Cloud. The General and I have been taking care of him lately." Twelve eyebrows meet hair lines at that comment. 'He's been under Hojo's tender mercies quite a bit. This is the first time he's had a chance to really meet anyone." Not quite true but close enough.
Sympathy flashed over the SOLDIERs' faces. Having dealt with Hojo when they first came to the SOLDIER program they knew what that meant. "Come sit down Cloud. I'm Van." Cloud took a seat next to the black haired, silver eyed SOLDIER. "You already know the infamous Zack of course. That's Jason, Andy, Randle, Fandes and Lendle." Cloud's bright mako blue eyes flitted around the table matching each name with a face.
"Better eat up kid," Ands said with a grin. "ShinRa has good food for SOLDIERs – they probably wouldn't be alive otherwise – but it tastes better warm."
"Thanks," Cloud said softly.
Randle turned to Zack. "Doesn't talk much, does he?"
"Oh he will, he's just not used to large amounts of people at a time," Zack replied.
"Well, we'll take care of that!" Lendle commented. He turned to Cloud. "Feel like going down to the gym after breakfast?"
Cloud shook his head. "I can't. I've got an appointment with Dr. Airi right after this." He sighed. "Then I have to deal with Hojo." He stabbed his lat piece of pancake with extra force.
"Don't worry about it, we'll go another time," Lendle replied. "Provided Zack and the General don't lock you back up again that is." He glanced at Zack.
Cloud turned around to look at the doorway. A few seconds later Sephiroth walked into the room. Cloud quickly thanked the SOLDIERS, placed his empty dished in the tub to go back to the kitchen ad quickly scampered off to meet Sephiroth.
"That," Van said after the General and his charge had left, "was down right spooky. Are the always like that?"
"Cloud is always aware of Sephiroth. The General can't tell as well but there is a connection." Zack took a sip of his coffee. "We suspect Hojo performed similar experiments on both of them."
"Alright Zack, spill. Exactly what's going on with the kid?" Jason asked.
"Hojo managed to deage one of you SOLDIER candidates. Then he experimented on him." Zack succinctly said. "We can't stop him totally but we're trying to make life as good as possible for him."
Jason sighed. "I thought I recognized him. There was a candidate named Strife in Ma'ar's group. I saw him the day I went to 'talk with' him." Ma'ar had a bad habit of traumatizing young SOLDIER candidates. He was sadistic and cruel. Mako had only enhanced these traits. Unfortunately he was also one to the best sword instructors ShinRa had. Thos who survived never failed to become first class SOLDIERs. Of course, more failed the tests than passed. Zack had been friends with Ma'ar's rival, Urtho, during training. Urtho had died in the Wutai war after which Zack and his circle had taken up the job of protecting the youngsters under Ma'ar's command.
"How was he?" Zack asked softly.
Jason shook his head sadly. "I've never seen something so cruel in my life. The entire squad perused him on a daily basis. Though I must say the kid had talent and wits. I don't think I could have evaded bullies as well as he did at that age. And when they did catch him he managed to keep his injuries to a minimum."
"Or he had practice," Van replied. As an outcast in his own family Van knew exactly what if felt like to be bullied. "Or both. But either way this might be the best thing for him."
"Maybe," Zack murmured. "Maybe…"
*~*
"Well you certainly seem healthy," Airi said as Cloud jumped off the examination table. "How do you feel?"
"Alright." Cloud shrugged. He glanced at the clock. "Hojo's gonna be really mad if I'm late."
"Go ahead," Airi replied. She chuckled as Cloud zipped out of the room.
"Where's the fire?" Zack asked as he came into the room.
"Cloud doesn't want to annoy Hojo." Sephiroth explained.
"If you have a minute gentlemen?" Airi asked. They both nodded. "It appears Cloud is going fine physically. He's certainly in better healthy than most children his age. But he also has a very high pain tolerance which makes me worry about what Hojo is doing to him. He defiantly remembers some of his former life. Mostly knowledge and skills rather than actual memories. For example he knows how to read but he doesn't remember his old neighbors. He doesn't mind Hojo's tinkering. I'm sure he's manipulating the scoundrel. Cloud's down right clever. I certainly wouldn't put it past him."
"So Hojo isn't harming him?" Zack asked in surprise.
Airi shook her head. "Not as far as I can tell. But with Hojo's experiments certainly aren't my forte. I could be wrong."
"That is not a comforting though," Sephiroth growled.
"I know. But there is very little we can do. Most of this is in Cloud and Hojo's hands."
*~*
Cloud passed the basket ball to Van who scored. "Yeah!" the blond performed a victory dance.
Jason sighed. "Alright, alright, I give up."
Cloud laughed and whirled around. Suddenly he froze and looked at the clock. "I've still got an hour. What gives?"
Van looked over and saw the tall man in a lab coat. "Cloud?"
"Specimen M.C. You are ordered to Lab 679 immediately," the scientist hissed.
Van had always been surprised how much Cloud reminded him of Zack. Now he could see the General in him as well. All emotion vanished from Cloud's face. The very air around him grew frigid. Head held high the child lead the way to the lab.
Van glanced at Jason. "You go find Zack. I'll look for the General. Something's up."
While the two SOLDIERs were looking for Cloud's guardians, Cloud stared emotionlessly as Hojo practically skipped around the lab. The professor had found some new typed of material and couldn't wait to see the effects on his 'specimen.' Cloud forced himself to remain calm as Hojo continued to blather on about the materia's properties. It seemed as if this material had far more power than anything he had absorbed yet. Cloud silently prayed he could handle it. There was no way he was backing down. If he did Hojo would resume tests on Sephiroth.
The heavy black material fell into his hands. Blue eyes closed as he reached out to activate the material with his mind. Power surged up his arm and slammed into him.
Yes!
The power of the stars sang in his veins. Immense destruction glowed deep inside the material. And that thing from the reactor was reaching out through Cloud for that power.
I will return to the stars! Those blasted Cetra can't stop me now that I have this!
'No!' Cloud thought. He shoved the alien- Jenova- away with his mid. She lashed back with scalding energy. Cloud forced himself to ignore it. He reached out, seized the power of the materia and yanked it into himself instead of letting the power come to him as he usually did. It nearly over whelmed him Jenova screamed and struggled to take him over. Cloud refused. 'I'll die first!'
It seemed the black materia was willing to take him up on it. Jenova faded away as the energy completely filled Cloud. The young boy could feel the physical material disintegrate in his hands. Another wave of pain crashed over him like a tsunami and took his consciousness with it.
*~*
"General sir!"
Sephiroth turned to see a second class SOLDIER quickly approaching him. After a few seconds he recognized the man as Zack's friend, Van. He acknowledged the salute and waited for him to speak.
"Sir, we were with Cloud in the gym and some one from Hojo came and took him early to the lab."
Ice settled into the pit of Sephiroth's stomach. "Has SOLDIER Zack been informed?"
"Jason went to get him."
Sephiroth nodded. "Mad sure Dr. Clayborn is aware of the situation. I'll meet Zack in the lab." Walking quickly but appearing calm the silver haired man caught up with Zack just outside of the lab. They walked silently into the lab. It didn't take long to find Cloud. Hojo was ranting and raving over Cloud's collapsed body ranting about failure. The boy's guardians didn't waste a second. Zack scooped the child up and ran for Medical. Sephiroth glared at Hojo and quickly interrogated the professor. He found out Cloud had absorbed a very powerful material and apparently it had stopped his heart. After that the General ran out of the room following Zackary's footsteps.
Upon Sephiroth's arrival at Medical he found himself surrounded by ordered chaos. Zackary stood by the wall watching the doctors hook life support up to Cloud. His worried eyes met the General's green ones. Carefully avoiding the frantically working doctors Sephiroth moved to his friend's side.
A short eternity later Airi wearily dismissed her assistants and walked slowly over to the wall. She spoke before either warrior could question her. "He's stable for now."
"You can fix him, can't you?" Zack asked panic in his voice.
"I just can't 'fix' him Zackary. He's a human being, not a machine." Airi snapped. She rubbed her forehead. "I'm sorry, that was uncalled for."
"What can you tell us?" Sephiroth asked.
The doctor looked very uncomfortable. "As far as we can tell, Cloud's body is literally charged with energy. That's what's causing his system to shut down. Unfortunately we haven't been able to neutralize it."
"What does that mean?" Zack demanded.
"It's only a matter of time until Cloud dies."
End Chapter 7
There you go. Obligatory angst chapter for a FFVII fic. However, I may post 8 tomorrow so you won't have to wait that long. It will be up before the week is out.
The other SOLDIERs in this fic names' come from Mercedes Lackey's books. Zack's friends are from The Last Herald Mage Series and Urtho and Ma'ar are from The Black Gryphon. She's one of my favorite non-fanfiction authors.
I have TWO people to thank this chapter, TWO!
Katie14: Thanks for your continued support! I always thought it was suspicious how Sephiroth fell into the whole Jenova lies thing. He's supposed to be really intelligent. I've got a couple different takes on that that'll come up in some fics other than the A Little series.
Blue Eyed Angel2: He is adorable, isn't he? There's some scenes in this that came to me as mental images so I had to rework the plot to fit them in. If I could draw I'd put some stuff up. But as I insult stick figure's I most certainly won't inflict you with them.
Author of the Update: soranokumo for her SOLDIERs arcs and her swimming pool stories. These are good rereading material.