Chapter Two

"So it's a go then?"

"Yes. So don't mess it up."

"When have I ever done that, Tifa? Get real."

"I guess so. Just come back safely."

"Right." The phone shut and Fenrir revved up. Dust was left in his wake as he drove off across the fields.

Cloud sped up, faster and faster. If he reached a certain speed...

A soft burst off air hit Cloud in his face. He opened his eyes and saw another bike before him. It wasn't slowing down so Cloud would have to speed up. He was catching up but they were coming to a cliff. A smile crossed his face as he skidded to a halt randomly. He laughed and looked around himself. He frowned.

He was just by the line that divided the Mako from the Midgar. Mako was an energy source that powered everything past this point and one or two cities elsewhere. Mako's had officially dubbed everyone but those in their Mako powered cities as vermin. Midgar cities were powered by natural resources and normal powers. Most people lived equally and no one thought anything for the Mako cities.

The larger Mako cities had large slums populating them. Those fortunate ones had the easy life while those in the slums starved. Residents of Midgar often wondered why the slums didn't travel to their cities.

Currently, a war was upon them all. It started 6 years ago. Sephiroth, a powerful man and the greatest fighter in Mako's army, had told his leaders some lie about Midgar and now they were at war. Whatever the reason may have been that Mako shut it's doors to the public and forced it's able bodies people into armed forces, Cloud didn't care.

Cloud had volunteered to join his army. He was a spy and soldier for Midgar. He'd had partners before but they all complained that he was too angsty or drove too fast on his motorcycle. Cloud didn't care. He worked better alone.

"Six years." Cloud muttered under his breath. "Only a year after you left." he pulled a dull metal locket from somewhere on Fenrir. Tifa had given him this locket 7 years ago. Cloud wouldn't wear it, too weird to see himself wearing a necklace like this. But he hid it in Fenrir.

He drove so fast just to loose himself in the rush of the race. But he lost. He always lost.

"Hn." Cloud opened the locket without any difficulty. He was sure it's small door would break off soon. Inside was a picture of Kadaj, leaning on his new motorcycle. Looking hot headed as usual.

He stuffed the locket back where it had come from and muttered curses at Tifa. He remembered her joking about getting him a heart locket instead.

Vrrr! Vrrr!

"Hello?" Cloud picked up his phone.

"Cloud? Were you daydreaming again?"

"No. Why?"

"I called three times."

"Oh. Ok."

"Whatever. Cloud, have you gotten their yet?" Tifa asked.

"Yea. I'll take care of it."

"Cloud! Wai.." Click.

Whatever she was going to say was cut off. Oh well. Cloud was capable of handling a mission like this.

He hopped off his bike and decided to walked the rest of the way. Grabbing his sword, he jumped off the cliff he was on and landed on the lower dirt. Nothing but dessert here.

His mission was simple, actually. Too simple for his liking. Apprehend the man, Cid, and bring him back to the bar. Cid. What kind of name was that?

Cloud craned his neck, coming in view of the man's house. He darted behind a boulder nearby. Someone was there. Three motorcycles rested outside Cid's house. The door burst open and three men came out.

One had long silver hair and seemed not to care about the baking sun he'd walked into. He dressed in leather and cracked his neck slightly. He spoke but Cloud was too far to hear it. His partner, from the looks of their clothing, was a taller man with a strong build and short silver hair. He was escorting a man out, forcefully. He nodded to his long haired companion and they hopped on their bikes.

Cloud gasped. He recognized them! Yazoo and Loz! Those two were brothers. What were they here for? And.. That third bike.. Where was..

"Eavesdropping, Nii?" a snide voice smirked. Cloud looked up on the bolder and jumped back.

"Kadaj!" Cloud gasped. He would have greeted him further but his silver haired companion grew curiousness in his green eyes.

"How do you know my name?" he asked. When Cloud didn't respond, he grew angry. "Answer me!"

How could Kadaj not remember him? And what was that hate burning in his eyes. Kadaj moved instantly and Cloud quickly moved his sword to keep Kadaj from slicing his throat.

"You. What's your name?" Kadaj asked.

"Cloud. Cloud Strife." the blonde replied. His eyes dilated. Kadaj narrowed his eyes. Mako blue eyes.. He jumped back from Cloud and eyed him strangely.

"Who's side are you on, Cloud Strife?" Kadaj asked, squatting down. Cloud momentarily wondered how he could move in all that leather.

They stared silently at each other for some time. Cloud's eyes searched his friend for any sign of recognition. Finally, he sheathed his sword and sighed.

"I guess it's not on your side." he answered. Kadaj didn't understand this stranger's actions, but it didn't matter. He'd put up his weapon. Now was his chance.

"Kadaj!" a voice called. Kadaj fumbled slightly. He had been so close to cutting this man's head off. Yazoo leaned lazily on the back of his bike and Loz looked around for Kadaj. So Loz had called to him.

"I think they're waiting for you." Cloud was staring back at Kadaj, eyes clouded so Kadaj couldn't read the emotion in them. He jumped down next to Cloud and whispered in his ear.

"Don't order me around." And Kadaj jumped away back to his brothers.

– – – –

"Cloud?" Tifa asked. Cloud had called but he didn't talk for a while.

"Tifa.. I failed.." he mumbled.

"What? How?" How did Cloud of all people fail?

"I met some interference."

"Silver haired trio, right?"

"Huh? How'd you know?"

"I tried to warn you earlier, Cloud. Reports of the trio have been all over the military. They've already killed some of our subordinates. Even Rude was attacked.. And he'd not even much of a threat! Reno's furious!" Tifa read from a report silently.

"Hm.." Cloud took the silence as time to think.

So Kadaj was working for a military too.. Kadaj may have joined the military like Cloud but something must've gone terribly wrong in 7 years. Kadaj had a thirsty look in his eyes. He seemed more.. What word was he looking for?

Dangerous?

He'd forgotten Cloud and their adventures together. Obviously he's forgotten everything. Cloud noted Kadaj's height growth and his hair had gotten a little longer. Kadaj hadn't changed his style, thankfully. He still tried to show off with those clothes and his hair was still parted to the side to hide his face. Cloud used to wonder what he was trying to hide with that hair but he'd learned to like it.

"Cloud?'

"Hm?" Cloud was brought from his thoughts.

"Cid's okay. They could threaten him with death and he'd still be the stubborn ass he always has been. Don't dwell too much on it... You're okay, right?" Tifa seemed suddenly worried.

"Yea."

"Was it something the silver haired mystery assassins did?" she asked.

"Heh. Something like that." Cloud smiled at her intuition. Sometimes Cloud was as readable as murky water. But on other occasions, Cloud was an open book.

"Come on back and we'll decide what to do next." Tifa hung up at the same time as Cloud.

Cloud sighed, running his fingers through his hair. He pocketed his phone and pulled on his goggles. Fenrir roared into life and he sped on home.