A loud and high-pitched ringing woke Cloud up from his dreams in his dorm room. To his Mako-enhanced senses the noise was almost unbearable, covering his ears he searched his room trying to find the source of the noise. Eventually he found it, his PHS alarm was going off in his bag next to a mastered HP plus materia. After pressing a few random buttons in his haste, the blonde finally managed the get the evil device to switch off and he made his way back to the bed, sighing with relief. 'What time is it anyway? And why in Holy's name did I set that alarm?' Cloud wondered as he checked his watch, it was 2:50 in the morning! 'I'm gonna kill Zell, I bet he set the stupid thing yeah that was soooo funny. Holy! I'm gonna get the Ultima Weapon and ram it so far up his…' Cloud continued muttering to himself in his head, not really knowing why he was blaming Zell, but doing it nether the less.
Cloud decided to get up properly and so quickly got dressed, his SOLDIER training not letting him go back to sleep but to go do something with his extra conscious hours. Cloud grabbed his sword, armour and sunglasses as left his small room. He quickly ran his fingers through his hair instead of brushing it as he left the shared area and started to leave the dorm corridors. As he walked, a sudden chill ran though his body when the Garden's huge clock stuck the hour of 3. The shiver froze him to the spot in the hallway for a split second, having felt as though he had had a bucket of ice-cold water thrown over him.
Cloud shivered and looked around curiously, where was he? It was like waking up from a dream, he wasn't sure where he was, had he been sleep walking again? 'Oh yeah, I'm in that Garden place-thingy bob aren't I?' Cloud thought as he started walking down the somehow familiar corridor lined with identical doors, curiosity getting the better of him. He was glad he had set that alarm on the PHS or else he would have slept through this hour of blessed freedom, he allowed himself a small grin. Cloud decided to visit Vincent; the older ex-Turk would have a better idea of what to do now than him, plus he was the only person Cloud knew on…wherever this place was. As it was, Cloud could barely remember anything since he entered the Northern Crater and briefly in Cosmo Canyon, and everything thathe had done afterwards was like remembering a dream; damn near impossible.
Five minutes later Cloud was stood outside a plain dorm door, sunglasses in his pocket; not knowing why he had been wearing them when it was dark outside. He knew Vincent was behind the door, he could sense the Jenova cells in the sniper, and was drawn to them in the same way he had been drawn to Sephiroth when the Reunion occurred up in the North. The cells called tohim, Cloud figured that he'd be able to find the sniper almost anywhere if he really tried, he guessed Vincent's Jenova cells would allow Vincent to find him as well if he really wanted. Cloud slowly opened the door and slipped though the gap, the main eating/study room was clean and almost identical to his own shared one, he ignored it as he headed for Vincent's bedroom and, without knocking,let himself in.
Vincent seemed to be asleep in bed, but as Cloud walked closer to the ex-Turk, he jumped out from under the covers and quickly got into a defensive stance before he realised who it was. Golden claw slightly drawn back, and his fist drawn up against his chest, as though expecting a fight.
Relaxing only slightly when he saw who it was, Vincent warily asked "What are you doing here Cloud? Its 0310 hours." He kept his eyes fixed on the blonde teen as the person in question ran a hand through their hair and grinned at him, but still kept his claw and hand ready justin case they were needed.
"Hey Vinny! Relax, it's just me!"
Vincent raised an eyebrow, 'What in Planet's name is Cloud up to? If he thinks he can catch me off guard he's got another thing coming!'
Cloud wanted to run over and hug Vincent as he was so glad to see the AVALANCHE member, but Vincent's wary stance and watchful gaze made Cloud realise that Vincent wasn't happy he was there. Was he actually scared of Cloud? Cloud shook his head slightly 'Of course he's not scared of me, what could possibly scare Vincent? …well apart from Yuffie on a sugar rush.' He involuntary shuddered at the thought.
"…Cloud…what….are you doing here?" He asked, being uncomfortable with the situation.
Cloud grinned "To come see you, it feels like I've not seen you in ages!"
"But you saw me mere hours ago, Cloud."
"Did I? I can't remember." Cloud rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment, his memory wasn't well known for being good or accurate.
"Cloud?" Vincent asked slowly, recognising the gesture from when Cloud was 'normal'
"Yeah?"
"It is really you isn't it?"
Cloud ginned "Of course!"
Vincent's scarlet eyes widened at his reached over and poked Cloud in the chest with his normal hand. When Cloud just laughed rather than go ballistic, Vincent realised the real Cloud was back, and felt ashamed to ever think the puppet Cloud was the real one.
"How…how did this happen?" Vincent asked in admiration, maybe there was hope after all
"Aeris told me in the Sleeping Forest that I was free for an hour a day, so I set the PHS to wake me before hand."
"Aeris?"
"Yeah"
"…Told you in the Sleeping Forest?"
Cloud nodded, "Yeah, I dreamt it, but I knew it was real, just like when she told me she was going to the City of the Ancients."
Vincent sighed and sat down on the ruffled bed. "Let me get this straight, a dead girl came to you in your dreams and told you about this hour, then you got up and came to see me?"
Cloud's eyes darkened slightly on the words 'a dead girl', but nodded once more.
"Why? Why come to see me?" Vincent asked, unsure of how he could be of any help to Cloud at this late stage in the game.
"I thought you might be able to help me get out of his control. I know I'm doing…things… when in his control that I wouldn't normally do, but I still feel like me…it's hard to explain. I can't do it without help, and as you're the only one who won't cart me off to the funny farm. I guess we're stuck working together."
Cloud sat down on the floor with his back against the door and his legs stretched out. Ultima Weapon laid by his legs in easy reach. It seemed weird getting help off a guy older than you but only looked 15 or 16;thinking about it, actually Vincent looked kind of like a red-eyed, semi-spiky haired Zack when Cloud first joined SOLDIER as a cadet.
Both teens looked at each other, blood red eyes meeting Mako blue, "Cloud, I do not know how I can help you." Vincent finally admitted, "If we leave, SeeD would surely come after us, if we went back to Planet, Sephiroth would just send you here once back under his power. If I just tie you up and leave you somewhere until this hour comes again, Sephiroth would come and see why you were not following his orders and just force you back under his control."
Cloud knew what Vincent was saying was true, whatever happened he would put people in danger, if he continued this way he would be hurting innocent people, and if he ran then it would be Sephiroth killing, not him, and Sephiroth wouldn't just hurt a few people, he'd destroy entire towns and cities if annoyed, Nibelheim rose quickly to mind.
"He could even take away this hour if he wanted to, I'm guessing that it is necessary or else he would not allow you this freedom." Vincent continued, making the sentence more a statement than a question.
Cloud nodded, "Aeris said that I might be 'nothing more than a mindless vegetable' if he didn't let go for a while, but I don't think that Sephiroth would really care, he seems to have a thing about screwing up my mind."
Cloud glanced at his watch next to his equipped armour, "I've only got half an hour left…."
Vincent nodded, "Perhaps you should tell the Commander or someone, then it would not be just me preventing you from attacking people."
Cloud looked at Vincent once more "Now that depends if they have the death penalty here or not." He had always wanted to die in a heroic way, in a way to be remembered long after he was dead. "I don't want to die like that…but I guess if that's the only way to stop Sephiroth…" Cloud sighed in acceptance. "They would kill me as soon as they realised. Vinny, if they come after me be on their side, don't defend me. They don't know how strong I am, I'm still level 96 in this body, and Squall is the strongest person here by far, bar us, and he's only at 73, they'll find it hard to kill me, they'll need your help."
Vincent opened his mouth to answer when their ears caught the sound of a light pair of footsteps heading over to the door. Both teens stayed silent as Cloud moved away from the door and held the Ultima Weapon ready in case the owner of the feet was a threat.
"Erm…Vincent...is that you talking? Would you mind keeping it down please? The SeeD written exam is tomorrow and I want some proper sleep before it…"
Cloud raised an eyebrow at Vincent, "Who is it?" he mouthed.
"Frit, go to sleep." Vincent raised his voice to be heard through the door. Muffled muttering could be heard before the footsteps faded away into the adjoining room.
"It was the boy whom I share this double room with." Vincent explained "He wishes to partake in the SeeD exam tomorrow, there are two dates for the exam, tomorrow, or rather today, and later on in the week."
Cloud nodded, "That sounds familiar somehow…"
"You asked Zell to sign us both up for it once we defeated that T-Rexaur in the Training Centre. Although you didn't exactly ever hit it." Vincent said as though asking for an explanation.
Cloud shrugged, it seemed to becoming a new habit of his. "Well you kept back and stayed well outta range." He pointed out, the memory of the fight suddenly coming back.
Vincent didn't answer.
"Was it…Chaos?" Cloud asked while plucking at his jeans, not sure if he wanted an answer or not.
"Yes, I did not want to loose control here, not with all the children around." 'I could not bare any more sin' he mentally added.
"…You know Vincent, this is possibly the longest conversation I've had with you…ever."
The two looked at each other for a moment, before Cloud broke the silence, "You should talk more, you know?"
"And you should talk less, you know?"
Cloud grinned in response.
06.45, Vincent's room:
Cloud stretched as he woke up with the morning sun in his sensitive eyes, then rubbed his neck to get rid of a cramp, 'Where am I?' He looked around suspiciously, as he started to get up off the floor where he had fallen to sleep sat upright against a wall. 'Is this Vincent's room? How did I get here?' He moved over to the bed where Vincent, upon hearing Cloud's movements, had just woken up and was watching him through tried eyes.
"Traitor, what am I doing here?" Cloud demanded angrily
Vincent shrugged
"Man, your not even worth the effort." And with that, Cloud grabbed his sword and left the room.
"…Goodbye Cloud…" Vincent sighed softly to the closed door.
14:00, Upstairs classroom number 15:
"Now everyone who is going to take the SeeD written exam, please stay in your seats, people who are not taking the exam you are free until your next lesson." Said Instructor Xu to the class of potential SeeDs. There was a mad rush for the door by the majority of students, a few who she would have thought were going to stay left hesitantly, while others she had thought would leave, stayed. Two such people were the new cadets Cloud and Vincent Valentine. Xu frowned and walked over to the pair as Quistis started handing out exam papers.
"Why are you two staying? You both haven't been here for even a week yet, Zell says that you have talent, but neither of you are ready for SeeD, maybe in a year or two kids, but not yet." She said in a low voice.
"According to Balamb Garden SeeD entry rules, you need only be old enough to take the test, there is nothing stating that we must have been in Garden for a specified number of days, months or years. Or even at a high level, only that you are in this Garden and are willing to take the exam." Said the younger teen, Vincent. Cloud simply glared at her while adjusting his equipped armour.
Xu felt her mouth almost drop at the boy's words; no one had ever stated Garden rules to her before who wasn't in SeeD or an instructor. Most SeeDs only knew the most common Garden rules like when lights out wasor not to draw magic from team members, but if the guy was here for only a few days and already knew the rules…
Smiling Xu nodded and walked to the front desk to inform everyone they could start the exam, and to remind them that any cheating would result in them failing the exam on the spot.
It was really quite sad how there were only six sitting this exam, when she sat hers there had been nearly 30 cadets.
Cloud gazed at the exam paper once he turned it over, 'Why would anyone need to cheat on this paper? The written exam for SOLDIER 3rd class was a lot harder than this! I would've killed to get this exam when I tried to get into SOLDER 2nd class.'
Vincent was thinking along the same lines as he read question 1; 'Antidotes cure Poison. True or False?' He rubbed his head in exasperation, to think he had thought this might be challenging…
Vincent knew he had all the answers right until he came to question 20; 'Mesmerize Blades can be stolen from a Mesmerize. True or False?' Vincent stared, was this a trick question or something? He didn't even know what a Mesmerize was, the answer really seemed too obvious to be true. He looked back at his other answers having decided on the age-old way on how to answer questions you didn't know the answer to on papers like this. Most of the answers seemed to be False, so,after circling 'True' Vincent stood up and handed in his exam then left the room not noticing the wide eyed stares of the other examinees most of whom were still on question 7.
Cafeteria:
Vincent sat in the cafeteria at one of the tables at the back of the room, slowing sipping a black coffee as he watched students talk past, waiting for Cloud to finish; he didn't have to wait long for the sword master to come.
"We've all been given a week off until the field exam." Cloud said as he sat down opposite Vincent, a bottle of vodka in his hand. "I say we get outta here and…get on with the mission, we're heading to Balamb." He added lowering his voice, not that anyone was close enough to here them talking anyway.
Vincent stared at Cloud's drink, "Do you really think that that is acceptable for a school? You are not even old enough to drink yet." He frowned, ignoring what Cloud had just said, there was no point arguing his decision, it was already made.
Cloud frowned, his gloved hand tightening on the bottle so much that a crack formed around its neck before be realised and stopped before it shattered. "I'm 22, Vincent, with an incredibly high tolerance to alcohol due to Mako."
"No Cloud, you're a 17 year old boy."
"Well you're a teenager drinking strong black coffee, you can't do that anymore else you'll get on a caffeine high…like a vampire Yuffie."
Vincent raised an eyebrow.
Cloud sighed and put the drink on an empty table next to them, "Fine then, it's not mine." He grinned and stood up, "I'll meet you outside in twenty minutes, be ready by then, don't make me come get you." He 'jokingly' threatened as he eyes flashed in a dangerous warning to be there.
Vincent made no movement or sound to acknowledge the teen's words, but Cloud knew Vincent would be there. Cloud spun his Ultima Weapon skilfully onto his back as though he had just killed an enemy and turned from the table. As he calmly strolled out of the cafeteria, Vincent noticed with a slight smirk the number of girls watching Cloud walking sigh, and the number of boys with poorly hidden jealous looks on their faces.
Vincent downed his coffee then stood up to leave and get ready, but as he left the room a shrill voice shouted above the noise of the students, "WHO THE HELL HAS BEEN DRINKING ALCOHOL IN HERE?!?!?!" The sniper gave a half smile and carried on walking, loading Heaven's Peace with armour piercing ammo as he walked.
15:10, Main Entrance:
Vincent waited near the exit of Garden for Cloud to come, it had only taken him less than ten minutes to pack for a week's 'trip', years of travel with the Turks and AVALANCHE making him a speedy, but thorough, packer. He was wearing a long, brown coat, black combat trousers and brown walking boots. Perfect clothes to travel or to be camouflaged in, his hair was loosely tied back with a band, and his rifle hidden under his coat along with a healthy supply of ammo. After a few minutes of waiting, Cloud turned up ready to leave, a bulging pack slug over one shoulder and wearing similar clothes to his old SOLDIER uniform Vincent noticed. Baggy blue jeans, a navy vest top and brown hiking boots, but on Cloud's head was a black cap with a flaming meteor stitched onto the front. It seemed like something of the old Cloud still wanted to look like the deceased SOLDIER Zack, but the cap…
Cloud caught Vincent staring at his new cap and gave it a tweak, "Cool, huh?" he grinned, "Got it in Esthar, couldn't resist. Selphie spotted it, wanted to buy it for her boyfriend."
Vincent just picked up his bag and started walking down the road to Balamb, trying to ignore the horrific images in his mind of Meteor, Holy and the Lifestream on Planet, and the people of Midgar being blasted to dust with the sheer force the three greatest powers known to man colliding.
Esthar, Dr Odine's Laboratory:
"Zwall, zis blood that you zent me, it iz from the azzassin, is it not?" Dr Odine asked Squall as he stared at a blood sample through a powerful microscope.
"Yes…why do you ask?" Squall said, curiosity overcoming his desire not to talk or ask questions.
"Where iz thiz zample from?" He asked instead of answering Squall's question
"We got in from one of the walls and what was left of the window, Ward collected it for us, seems that Laugua shot the assassin." Irvine said, as he lounged lazily in one of the chairs in the corner of the room, his rifle in pieces on his lap at he casually, but carefully, cleaned it.
"With what?"
"His rifle, duh, AP rounds I recon." Irvine said as he frowned at the doctor.
"Hmmm"
Squall and Irvine exchanged looks, Squall had had enough of this, all Odine was doing was asking questions that had not real point. Just as Squall was about to grab the annoying little man and shake some answers from him, Dr Odine turned from the microscope and faced the SeeDs.
"Zis blood is highly poisonous, if any of you touched it, you would be dead by now. The zlightest touch would most likely zend you into a permanent coma. Let me dementrate." Dr Odine shouted to his assistant who was out of the room "Zuzan!! Bring me a specimen!"
"Yes Doctor!" A voice shouted back. Within a few minutes the female assistant who had given Dr Odine the sample a few hours before, came in carrying a large wire cage with both hands; an adult dog cowered inside it.
Squall frowned, "I thought that all animal testing had a worldwide ban."
Dr Odine glared at Squall before turning back to the black Labrador, "Zience does not care for your lawz."
Irvine had put his weapon back together by now, and hoisted it onto his shoulder as he walked over to the cage and stroked the dog through the bars. "Why not simply use monsters?" he asked.
"Animalz have clozer DNA to uz than mere monterz not even from zis planet but from itz moon." Dr Odine explained as he used a blunt metal tool and slowly covered it with the blood sample left in the glass casing.
Squall gazed at the dog whose tail was wagging happily due to the rare petting it was getting, 'Rinoa would kill me if she ever found out we were about to do…' he thought as his eyes followed the tail's movement.
"Would you rather test it Zwall?"
"…No" Squall said rather quietly as he turned his head away from the blissfully ignorant animal.
Dr Odine had finally coated the metal object with enough blood and moved over to the cage. Irvine moved back as though the brilliant, but crazy, scientist was trying to get him. The dog whimpered as he moved back and the petting stopped.
Dr Odine smeared some of the blood on the tool onto the dog's nose. The dog immediately licked it off. "Now we wait"
Within a few seconds the dog started to sway on its feet, its dark eyes seemed to glow for a moment before he fell sideways onto the bottom of the cage. The eyes flicked once more, as though a light had turned on behind them, then they went dim, much dimmer than before the 'experiment', Squall and Irvine recognised it as the look of death. Dr Odine confirmed their guess as he felt for a heart beat and found none.
"Much fazter than I had anticipated…I zall do zome testz and tell you vot I find."
Author's note:
I am soooooooooooo sorry for the long wait for this chapter! It was gonna be longer, but I thought that I beta but this up soon! The reason I didn't was because my proof-reader (who shall remain nameless) said that it was "boring and repetitive" and basically that no one was gonna read it as it was so pathetic. So I got all angry with my lame-ness and poorness of this story that I found I just didn't wanna carry on. But then I still carried on getting reviews although I hadn't updated, so finally thought "screw u, putting me down for no reason! Some people actually like this! (I'm assuming u do if u review)" and thus chapter 18 was born!!!!!!!
The next chapter hopefully shouldn't take nearly as long as this one! Even if I have make it shorter than what I want, don't wanna leave it so long again. Tell me if u think I should carry on or not! Or if u have any suggestions or comments to make, don't hesitate to review or e-mail me!
P.S. No animals were harmed in the making of this chapter, but strangely three tables in the cafeteria were destroyed along with a deep fat fryer…