Timber

Cloud stepped off the train, taking the time to look around the small town of Timber. What was the quickest way to get to the television station? He didn't know the town, it was like he was a tourist. People who were entering the station giving him strange looks as he headed out of the station.

It was quiet, trains were all pulling in for the night and the last ones were leaving, heading to Balamb where they would spend the night. Nobody was around to ask for directions, apart from the local drunk that had fallen asleep under the large sign at the stairs. The town gave him a rather faint homesick feeling but like most of his emotions, he threw them back into the deep pit that had grown in his heart.

His footsteps echoed in the sleeping town, it was just cold enough to see his breath and he took the few peaceful minutes to actually watch it and blow out a few deep cleansing breaths. He enjoyed how the cold air stung at the back of his throat, it made him feel clean.

It shoudn't be long before you and I are together again, Cloud thought with a smile, they can only hide in so many places before running out of allies. Even if we have to kill everyone on this planet, I'll do it. Just to be with you, it'd be worth it.

It would be worth it, to him at least. He would finally have what he wanted and nobody would get hurt. Everything would be as it should be, no Sephiroth killing the entire town of Nibelhiem, no Zack being hurt, no split personality, the thousands of people killed in Midgar when Meteor fell would still be alive.

No Vincent being awoken from his hellish nightmare, a voice countered, Cid would never have gotten his dream of space flight or Red XIII finding out his father wasn't a traitor.

Cloud smiled quizzically, "That wouldn't happen."

"None of what would be happening young man?" an older polite voice interrupted.

Cloud span round, his smile dropping fast as he clocked on to who was standing right in front of him. It seemed the gods were finally smiling on him. The ex-SOLDIER laughed inwardly, if the planet didn't want this death, then why did it keep throwing these rolls?

"Absolutely nothing," he fought back the evil smile that threatened to give his plan away, "Listen, I'm new to this town and I heard that a guy called Cid Kramer is staying around here. I'm an old...student from Balamb Garden and I've got some really bad news to tell him."

The gentleman frowned, the young man didn't look like any student he had ever encountered in the sleepy Garden but then, there was a time when students could come and go as they pleased. Perhaps the young man just failed to attain SeeDship and had dropped out.

He pushed his silver rimmed glasses up his nose, "I'm Cid Kramer...what's happened?"

"Ah jeez man," Cloud placed a concerned hand on the headmaster's shoulder, "Tell me you've heard?"

The young man couldn't help but laugh mentally as he saw the look of panic flash on the round face of the headmaster, this was to funny for him to even think about. He had sent Barret and Red to look for the man and here he was. Standing right in front of him and no one was around to witness the death of the man who had created the SeeD army.

Oh well, it looked like the planet was going to witness his death and anyone in Timber would get to watch it on the big T.V that was positioned right outside the station. It was too perfect, he could hold this man to ransom. The young SeeD leader would feel honour bound to go and rescue the aging headmaster.

"It's the...it's the Garden," Cloud feigned horror, "some...some freaking loony's just tried to kill everyone in it!"

Cloud turned round, unable to keep a straight face. The look on the man's face should have made him feel sorry but it kept causing him to laugh. He shook his head, knowing he would have to keep up the charade if he was going to get the headmaster to the station for his first and last television broadcast.

Cid Kramer's eyes widened, "Oh no! Is everyone alright? God...I..."

"I dunno...I was walking by the area when I heard this almighty crash and the guys screaming," Cloud raised his voices a couple of octaves, hoping his acting was convincing enough.

"I have to get to the Garden straight away..." the founder of SeeD wrung his hands, panic eating at his heart. He should never have left the Garden, the students must be scared out of their minds.

Wait a minute... he thought, Why hasn't Squall or the others tried to contact me? If the Garden had been attacked, then they would have told me by now.

The shockingly blonde young man looked at the headmaster, "Sir? Is there something wrong?"

"Why hasn't Squall tried to contact me?" Kramer stepped forward, trying to get a better look of the young man in front of him.

The blonde had the arrogance of a young Seifer Almasy yet the quiet power of Squall Leonheart. The young man's eyes filled with so much wisdom yet held so much naiveity in them. He was slender, he didn't look like a Balamb Garden student. Those who studied in the Garden usually ended up with a healthy tan yet this man looked deathly pale in the moonlight.

Cloud shrugged, "I don't know sir but I think you should head to the TV station, you know, to let the other Gardens know that you need help. If it's happened to one Garden, surely you have to make sure it won't happen to another."

Kramer nodded, "Right...the TV Station won't be open tonight. We do it first thing in the morning, but I want to know everything that you saw and heard."

It took all of his strength not to laugh in the headmaster's face when he said that. This was to perfect, he could get the man to do the dirty work for him. However, he could start his torture live on air, when the stupid and naive headmaster gave his rallying speech to the world.

Cid kept trying to bring the young man's name to the front of his mind. Certain parts of the boy should have stood out more, made him more easy to place but it was proving to be difficult.

"Yes sir," Cloud nodded, "Well, this is what I heard..."

Time compression area...

He would never, never in a million years, ever enjoy travelling through what the rest of AVALANCHE claimed to be one of the fastest and easiest way of travelling. Give him the open blue skies or the deep blue sea, give him being stuck in a small lift with Palmer and Heidegger or being trapped in the office stationary cupboard with Scarlett.

Anything but time compression. It dulled his senses, made him think about how easy it was just to pick up the Venus Gospel and start killing again. Seventeen years since he had last travelled this way and he could still name every nerve that refused to function when he stumbled down it. He spared a glance to Vincent who seemed to be battling the same feelings as they made their slow way across the mabled corridor.

It made him think as to how hard Vincent's own demons were trying to break free from the slender body. If he looked hard enough, he could see the pale man's jaw clentch in pain and the skin under his chin ripple as Chaos tried to rip free. This was the dark lord's domain and he hated visitors.

You stay where you are you cold hearted bastard, Cid caught Vincent's eyes, Chaos wasn't that far, it knew it was home.

"You alright back there?" Quistis's voice broke through the growing mist that seemed to be settling across Cid's mind, her voice sounding like it was over a million miles away instead of the few feet she truly was.

"Yeah..." Cid cleared his throat, "I'll be good as soon as we get the hell outta here."

Vincent placed a steadying hand on the marbled wall, trying to catch a breath. The children seemed to be unaffected by the extreme pressure that was being placed on them while they travelled. Was it because the planet knew that this was where the three teens belonged and it was doing everything it could to expel Cid and Vincent from the fragile timeline?

It also didn't help that Chaos was clawing his insides and was eager to break free from his body. The demon's power increasing as it drew it's dark powers. Vincent could hear it's laughter, hear the mocking it was giving him.

I'm home Vincent. Where monsters truly belong, I can see why Cloud and the rest are so fond of it now. You have little to no power over me here, Chaos whispered closely, I will not be used anymore.

Squall spoke for the first time since they entered the compression, "You're not going to drop dead on us are you?"

The former Shinra Turk gave his a predatory smile, "I'll be fine...I'm more worried about you four."

Zell turned round, "Why?"

Vincent slumped forward, gasping in surprise. Chaos was being rather adamant about showing it's ugly face. It kept pushing harder and harder, it was only a matter of time before the beast broke free. He hated how he relied on Squall but it was to dangerous to summon Chaos and to transform into the guardian force Diablos.

"Chaos..." Cid pulled himself up, "How much time you got before He shows his butt ugly face?"

The former Turk was on his knees, fighting the change. It took him a moment to respond but it was clear that Chaos was slowly coming through. It would only be a matter of minutes if the slender man allowed the change and who knew what kind of a mood the demon would be in.

"Minutes...maybe more," the growl came out, "I...we shouldn't have ca..."

Vincent cried out in shear pain as one of the demon's leathery wings exploded through his right shoulder, causing Quistis to cry out in surprise. The man could do nothing as a second wing followed with equal force apart from give them a choked cry.

Cid stepped back, knowing this could go either way. One, Chaos was on the side of the good guys and would be quite happy to allow the four remaining travellers safe passage through his domian. two, Chaos was feeling really quite pissy and was going to tear the face off of the first thing that it caught in it's sight.

Quistis stepped up behind the pilot, her voice making him such as she placed a hand on his back. Her touch bring back thoughts and places that he had long since forgotten about during his long years of killing and travelling.

"What's happening to him? Is he alright?" she whispered, not wanting to attain the currently preoccupied Vincent's attention.

Cid didn't know if he should have shrugged or laughed at that. He didn't know what was happening, he didn't know if he was alright. Vincent never really spoke of his feelings or that he was close to summoning the demon. Why hadn't the dark man told him that he wasn't sure about coming this way?

That if travelling this way meant Chaos was going to get free reign on the body it inhabited, why had Vincent even offered the option? Did he think he had a strong grip on the demon, enough control?

"He wanted to make sure that you got to Esthar with as much time as possible to warn the others," an age old familair voice stepped out of the darkness, a sad smile lighting her face, "and this was the only way he knew how to get there fast enough."

The woman walked closer to the group, the smile on her face falling when she saw the teens the two men were protecting. Her dark eyes widening as she saw Quistis, so this was the daughter of Cid Highwind. She looked so much like Shera, the blondeness was Cid's half of the family but her looks and facial features...they were the quiet woman's who had given her life to the captain.

"You have to get out of this place, Cid. It eats us alive," the woman whispered, "If...get out. Please."

The captain frowned when he caught sight of the bruise that was forming on the young woman's cheek, "Tifa...we need ta get to..."

How had she gotten that? Who would have struck the pleasant young woman in such a way to leave a mark on her? No man could have, he would have had to deal with Cloud and Barrett if anyone had touched her. Though it left it open to two choices but when narrowed down, Barrett would never raise a hand to her, he loved her like a daughter.

He opened his mouth, ready to ask why Cloud had felt it was required to strike her when Tifa interrupted him.

"Esthar..." Tifa looked back to where she had came from, "You'll never get anywhere the Presidental Palace to warn anyone. Yuffie is there already, the city is being torn in half. She's looking for Selphie and the president."

Squall pushed passed, he wasn't going to lose his father to the same people who were currently destroying anything to do with SeeD. Why would they attack Laguna? He wasn't a SeeD and very few people knew the actual relationship he had with the man.

"Help us, if you know so much..." Squall felt Cid pull him back, "what are you doing?"

Cid looked Tifa directly in the eye, "She can't. He'd find out."

Squall shook his head, "She has to help. If she can get us to Esthar before it's too late...we...I might be able to stop them. We can't just stand by and watch as the city is razed to the ground."

"I can't get you into the city. I can't even lie to Cloud," the female martial artist felt a shiver run down her spine as she spared a glance to Vincent, Chaos it seemed was winning the battle of control.

"Then why are you even here!" Squall had to be held back, his emotions for the Garden running high, "Where you there when the Garden was destroyed!"

Tifa's eyes widened, her mind finally clicking as to who was standing in front of her eyes. Three of the children Cloud wanted dead and Cid and Vincent. In grand total, Cloud wanted seven people dead in this time and he had killed over a hundred so far and not gotten one of them. Now Yuffie was being ordered to go and kill the people of Esthar, trying to find one of the children.

A primal roar stopped any responce Tifa was going to make, Chaos had finally broke free of Vincent's control and it hovered a few feet of the ground. Eyeing up all those who stood before it.

Slitted eyes watched them with intent, a cold smile creeping on it's face as it looked everyone one of them in the face. It could smell the fear off them, it enjoyed the fact that the normally stoic Squall was caught off guard. Scared because he was in a situation he couldn't control.

"I'm surprised you're still here," Chaos laughed at the blonde pilot, "Don't you normally run from the truth Cid? Run when it becomes to difficult or when you just can't handle who you've become?"

Quistis watched as Cid took a deep breath, Diablos was different. It looked like him but this one didn't have the same...attitude. This one seemed to be a cold hearted bastard who wanted nothing more than to cause death and pain. Had this 'personality' been the one that had shot that man back in Deling?

"Lovely to see your smiling face too," Cid gave the flying demon an off smile, looking at the demon as though he was something he had to scrape off his boot.

"Good to see you still think you're better than us," the demon taunted further, Vincent might have been a good friend to Cid but Chaos...he was the bastard that no one liked. Part of Vincent that nobody wanted to get on the wrong side of.

"How bout putting Valentine back in the driving seat huh? Let the soul with the brain cell out," Cid continued to insult Chaos, hoping that Vincent still had some control on the reigns and that he wasn't about to get his throat chewed or clawed out by a rather pissed off demon.

"God, I'm glad you're still as stupid as you were seventeen years ago," the demon moved forward, not happy when Cid refused to move from his place. It seemed the blonde had finally gotten a spine and wasn't about to have it removed without a fight.

Chaos once again tested the water, trying to see how far it could push before Cid snapped. In fact, he could sense the conflicting emotions running through him. He knew that deep down, Cid wanted to pick up the Venus Gospel and kill those he wanted to protect. He knew Tifa was always battling the same feelings but never had he such an easy target before.

Cid was just waiting to be tipped over the dark edge, he could sense how close the blonde had been when he had summoned Bahamut Zero back in Balamb. Granted it was to kill AVALANCHE but the will was there, just as it had been in Spira, on Gaia and all the other worlds they had destroyed on the quest to bing Aeris back.

"Tell me Cid," Chaos grinned, "Have you told the young charges about your own sordid role in this?"

Tifa wondered why Cid was allowing Chaos to speak to him like that. Had it been a human, they would have been flat out on the ground and suffering from a black eye. Did he really feel that he had to stand and atone for he had done ove the years? Had he been getting lessons from Vincent on the whole guilt trip or had he been secretly talking to Reeve when the group weren't looking?

"Have you told them about the brave tales of you killing the whole evil teens of Spira?" Chaos voice sounded like it was enjoying itself, "My personal favorite was you killing the blitzball player...oh...what was his name?"

Cid looked away, unsure of what his reply was to that. He knew the name of the last victim, it wasn't like he could forget the name. It screamed to him every night for near enough two decades, it wouldn't let him rest.

Chaos pushed, "Well? Want me to tell you? I can even show you if you like. Show your daughter what kind of a man you are."

"...was..." Cid whispered, all gathered could hear the shame and disgust in the one word.

Tifa bit her lip, how could Cid even think about argueing with the winged monster? She could see the look of confusion spread on each on of the teen's faces. How would they react when they learned more about Cid's past? He had been one of the cruelest bastard's in the group. More so than Cloud.

"How you and Vincent played tag team but you were always the one to take the last breath from them," Chaos looked at Quistis, "Your father is a raving phyco. Not any better than the bastards he's trying to save you from."

"Stay away from them," Tifa breathed, "Please, Chaos, even you have to admit that killing an entire school full of children is wrong."

Squall, Quistis and Zell took a step back from Cid. Had they been travelling with one of the men who had arranged to destroy the Garden? Were they going to be taken to the leader, to this Cloud fellow? Had Vincent played a part in the game, fooling them into thinking that he was also on their side?

"Chaos...Vincent, if you can hear," Tifa's voice cracked, she knew she was putting herself in danger, she knew she would be the one to feel Cloud's temper if he ever got wind of her actually helping and speaking to the very ones she should attack on first sight.

"Fight that bastard," she ordered, "Remember why you're doing this and that you have to stop Cloud and the others."

"The hell is going on?" Zell looked at his mother's friend who was feet away from the being that looked strangely like Diablos, "Cid...what the hell are they talking about?"

Cid closed his eyes, a shaky hand ran through his hair. His back bone had suddenly disappeared and he was facing Chaos who was not going to give up on being a bastard. It wanted him to strike out, to attack. It wanted to bring the pilot back home, he belonged in AVALANCHE, not apart from it.

"Cid? You're part of this?" Zell looked at Squall who seemed to have fallen quiet since Chaos started spilling the beans on the blonde pilot who had said nothing really about himself.

"...was. I was apart of it," Cid couldn't swallow, his throat becoming far too tight. Bile crept up, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth as he pushed it back down.

Leave them...alone, Chaos...it is not your place to tell Cid of his faults, Vincent's voice tried to argue Chaos's, refusing to allow the winged beast the right to judge his friend's misguided actions.

You have no right. I didn't give you control over my body and I want it BACK! Vincent screamed his request at the demon, pushing the rest of his strength into gaining back control of his own body.

Chaos stretched his impressive wing span, roaring at the voice in his head. He wasn't going to let Vincent take back what was his, he had spent far too long being held back from doing what he should have. To long being summoned for weaker enemies and those not even worthy of even calling him.

This is my body, Chaos spat at Vincent, My realm, I have control.

The winged demon expected Vincent to fold and to back down. Like so many times before but the human it seemed wasn't going to back out, he wanted his body back. Vincent had went quiet for a few minutes, disappearing from the senses of the winged demon before coming back.

My body, Vincent gave him a mental smile, that we share with three others. Hellmasker, Gigas and Galian. I don't think they like being left out of it.

Chaos smile dropped, You wouldn't...

Vincent smiled, I would and I have. Expect to hear them within the next couple of seconds, you bastard.

Chaos roared again but this time in pain. Vincent had caused the three other demons to come and claim ownership of the body. Gigas growled, wanting to take the winged flyer down a peg or three. All three demons were clawing at each other in order to break free.

All gathered looked on in horror as Chaos's form seemed to start an internal battle, the winged demon fell to the ground, gasping in pain. Gigas was the first one to try and break free, his huge limbs stretching the muscular arms to twice their length. Hellmasker's face attempted to break through the sharp features of Chaos, they could hear the cracks in the neck as the head tried to rotate.

Small horns tried to break through the skin, trying to change the normally grey colour of Chaos's skin to the deep purple of the horned and first being entrapped in Vincent's body.

Tifa carefully walked over to Cid, unable to tear her dark eyes from the horrible scene that Chaos was performing. She had never scene the demons so worked up before, they were all working together in order to subdue Chaos. Did they all agree that Vincent should be the main owner?

"You should go," Tifa placed a gentle hand on Cid's shoulder, "Cloud is gonna be back soon and I don't want him to find you here."

"Not leaving without Vincent," Cid found his eyes being drawn towards the bruise that had formed on the normally perfect skin of Tifa.

Tifa gazed over to the three teens, "You can't afford to wait. You have to get those three out of here and to Esthar if that's where you're heading. If you can actually get into the palace using the time compression method then you may be able to save those there."

Cid nodded, "It's been a while since I last did a precision drop. I was never that good."

Tifa laughed a real laugh, one that she hadn't felt in years. Modesty had grown on the pilot. His sense of humour was still intact and he still treated her as a friend. He hadn't turned away from her, he was still human.

That made her feel better, made her feel that there was still some form of hope for her. Still a chance for Cloud...perhaps.

"This from a man who can park the Highwind on a 1 gil piece," Tifa smiled at Cid, "You'll do just fine. Good luck."

The pilot took one last look at the young woman, wondering if he would ever see her again or if he did, would they be on the same side? He doubted that, his heart telling him that Cloud would find out that she had helped them and would punish her.

"Come with us," Cid whispered, "I...please, come with us."

Tifa shook her head, "Whatever punishment the planet gives me is worth it. I've turned into a monster, we all have and I'm glad that you're still the same. Glad that at least there is someone who is willing to stand agaisnt Cloud."

The pilot watched her place a hand over his heart, "Cloud is gonna..."

A tear ran from Tifa's eyes, "Yes but, it's okay."

Quistis watched the scene, forgetting the scene that Chaos was giving. The young woman was effectivly signing her death warrent by letting them go. She figured that one out for herself, something had happened between the two adults standing a few feet away.

Cid turned away from her, "...if you ever need me, just call."

"I know but," Tifa pointed to the teens, "Right now, they need you more than I do. I'll send Vincent when he pulls himself together. Keep moving and no matter how Cloud tries to bait you, don't fall for it."

"We're leaving Vincent?" Squall crossed his arms, unsure of even what actions he should be doing right now.

Vincent, even though he had kidnapped him and Quistis, had done nothing to actually threaten the pair. On closer inspection, the dark haired man had helped them. He had been open in his answers when asked. They had to help him, surely there was a way to actually help him gain control of his body.

Everything he said is true...Squall looked at Quistis, he could see she was trying to figure out what exactly was happening here.

Cid gently pushed Squall in the direction they were heading. It was tearing his heart that he was just going to walk away from his friend. One who had shown that she still had a heart. Vincent was still fighting for control so who knew when he would come back to the land of humans.

"...He'll catch up with us," Cid spared one last look at the retreating Tifa, wishing agaisnt hope that she would join them. He slowed his walking, giving her one last chance to actually band with them.

"You sure?" Squall followed Cid's eyes.

"Yeah," Cid stated, "He'll catch up with us. If not, he'll still find us."

Bahamut Zero shivered in the heavy silver bracelet, it knew it was near the city. Knew it was near Bahamut Neo...Yuffie was near by. They were coming up on the city, could the four of them really save the entire city or was his summoner just going in to get the main targets? The important ones?