'Cloud!' Reno called out after the guy who to him always seemed to be miserable, he got to go home to a beautiful girl with an amazing rack every night and he still couldn't crack a smile…it was a waste in Reno's eyes.

Cloud kept walking ignoring the Turks who were approaching him from behind; he kept his eyes straight and headed for his bike. He had a lot on his mind more than a lot he felt like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders and seeing Cid hadn't helped or what he'd asked him to do. If it had come at any other time if Cid had asked him months before Cloud would have hesitated but things were different now his strength was failing and their was no-way to say that he wouldn't end up just getting them all killed.

'It's not worth the risk.' Cloud whispered to himself.

'Talking to yourself huh, you know that's the first sign of madness but in…'

'Cloud we'd like you to come with us.' Rude informed cutting Reno off before his mouth could run away with him again.

'Do I get a choice?' Cloud frowned the tone of his voice pitched with defeat.

'No.' Rude answered truthfully trying to sound as polite as he could given the situation.

'Just come on already!' Reno complained reaching his low boredom threshold.

Saying nothing Cloud pulled the keys out of his bike dropping them into his pocket, turning on his heels he followed the two Turks to the helicopter, which was stationed close by.

Black underwear, that was all that Elena could keep on her mind. Tonight was going to be the night; the first time she would let Rude stay over. She grinned to herself chewing on the lush flesh of her bottom lip.

'Elena mind on the job!' Tseng barked as she narrowly avoid driving the helicopter into a cliff face.

'Sorry Sir.' She whispered softly the 'Sir' rolling over her tongue as sweet as honey.

'Perhaps when we get back some flying lessons are in order.' Tseng commented glancing at her from the corner of his eye, women weren't meant to be Turks.

'Yes Sir, I'll schedule the lessons with Rude when I get back to base.'

'Not Rude, Reno's free I'm sure he'll enjoy taking you in hand.' Tseng sneered knowing how to press the blonde's buttons, Elena's relationship with Reno had always been a rocky one built on the fact that she was a snob and that Reno fancied the pants off her.

Elena didn't let Tseng's comments break her stride however she did pay more attention to her flying.

Black underwear she grinned as she lowered the helicopter preparing to land. It felt different somehow this was going to be the first time that she'd invite any guy to stay at her place since her boyfriend in college. That made her sound bad like a tart but then again she was a Turk and from the very day she had signed up Elena had realized that sex went along with the job it was a great way to relax after a hard day. It wasn't like she hadn't already slept with Rude she had but she'd always asked him to leave almost straight away afterwards. But tomorrow things would be different she'd wake up with him, have breakfast with him and maybe even let him see her without any make-up on.

'Elena what is wrong with you today you almost killed us before and now you're just staring into space.' Remembering her job and all the times she'd lectured Reno on never dipping his pen in the company ink she realized she had to get a grip tonight would be tonight now was now, un-buckling her seat belt she hopped out of the helicopter.

'Rufus is going to hear about this.' Tseng warned, un-buttoning the holster, which sat on her slender hip Elena pulled out her gun wishing she could just pull the trigger and end her boss' complaining.

'Sir I…'Before Elena had the chance to fight her corner she was cut suddenly short.

'Where's Mother?' At the sound of the cold monotone the two Turks turned.

'We don't know what you're talking about.' Tseng replied disguising the fear he had felt at the site of the three men who looked so much like Sephiroth, when he'd first set eyes on them.

'Well I think you do!' Kadaj cried without warning striking Tseng with the twin blades of his Souba. Watching her boss fall backwards with the force of the blow Elena suddenly sprung into action firing her gun, her eyes widening as she watched her bullets bounce clean of Kadaj's blades. Realizing that simply using her gun wasn't about to cut it in this fight she quickly took up an attack stance next to Tseng who'd recovered from the blow to his chest.

'Lady's choice.' Tseng grinned as Elena quickly lunched towards Yazoo who blocked her kicks and punches without difficulty, kicking her hard in the stomach and half way across the creator.

'Elena!' Tseng frowned his voice filled with concern, glancing over at her he dropped his guard long enough for Loz to set upon him.

'I'm fine.' She whispered weakly struggling to her feet. Running at Yazoo Elena struck out with her long slender leg hitting the stranger across the face, jabbing him in the chest she wasn't about to let the opportunity go of beating him when he was on the back foot. Unbeknown to Elena however while she was winning her mini battle Tseng was losing the war in a big way. Stabbing his Duel Hound into the back of the Turk's neck Loz sent an electric pulse through Tseng's body bringing him to his knees.

'Enough with this.' Kadja mumbled grabbing Elena by the back of her short blonde hair pulling it tight angling her body so that she fell into the twin blades of his Souba. The air was suddenly forced out of her chest as pain the sort of, which she had never experienced before shot through her body. Pulling the blades out of her side Kadja stepped back watching Elena as she fell down limply onto her knees.

The last things that Elena thought off before she hit the deck was Rude and the fact that later on that night he'd been standing outside of her apartment thinking that she'd stood him up.