Hello, I'm eating an apple

Hello, I'm eating an apple! Yum yum! Also got some cheddar and crackers! Mmmm. I like food, don't you? Getting ready to write the new chapter, I've been taking notes over the week for this one and future chapters. Hope the last two have been entertaining. Sorry if there was any confusion in dialogue or separation of dream/reality. I tried doing the dotted line thing and whatever I did in the editing process, didn't show up on the site. I dunno what happened but I'll definitely work on it from now on! Thanks to everyone so far for the reviews and adds! Hee hee! You're the ones that help me out the most. Alrighty, lets get this chapter up!

-Annubis

Disclaimer: I do not own final fantasy VII, Squaresoft does.

Chapter Three

As the needles drew near, Zack's heart began to pound more furiously. He pounded on the glass with all his might.

"Come on! Come on! Jes' one crack! Please!" He slammed his hands against the surface harder and harder. The needles zipped through the holes, making their way towards their target. Zack leaned back and kicked the glass once. Two needles made their way into his right arm.

"Ah! Come on, do something!" He pressed his back against the opposite side of the breaker, preparing to lunge forward and use his whole body to break through. More needles punctured his skin. Zack hunched forward and as they flew into his legs and back, injecting the lethal green fluid. His whole body tingled and felt hot. Beads of sweat were dripping from his features. One after another, he was bombarded with the sticky needles. He felt dizzy and on the edge of unconsciousness. His ears were buzzing and his limbs were numb. The buzzing quickly turned into a high-pitched screech. Everything was so overwhelming. Zack felt himself falling to the lower part of his cage.

'No…I-I can't…' Never in his life had he felt anything like this. He felt like all sanity was about to leave him. The screeching was now a loud scream, a scream of pain but was so surreal. It was a sound he never heard before. It was similar to the noise he heard after Sephiroth's attack in the reactor, but was definitely something else. The noise seemed to be coming from the ground. He gripped the side of his head as the sound raised in volume. All his fear, pain, and anger transferred into an adrenaline rush. Everything began to fall into darkness but not before Zack made a final attempt to break free.

"Sir! Sir! We've got a Code Red, Level 10 on the 69th floor!" A SOLDIER ran frantically to his commander.

"WHAT? What the hell did you just say?" The commander jumped up from his cot.

"A-a Code Red, Level 10…we have an escapee!" The first-class SOLDIER began to tremble.

"I heard you the first time! What the hell are you doing here?" The commander grabbed the SOLDIER by the helmet.

"R-Reporting Sir!" The SOLDIER did not know which was worse, this situation with his commander or the escapee situation.

"How'd he get out?" The commander dropped the man.

"It seems he broke through the glass, sir." He took a few steps back.

"My God! That glass is at least six inches thick for standard specimens! And….bulletproof! Impossible!" The commander approached the SOLDIER. "What's his current status?"

"Uh…he's currently unconscious, sir." The SOLDIER looked at his feet.

"WELL! What the hell are you still standing here for? Grab Lieutenant Gus! You two get that specimen into a new cell! GO!" He chased the SOLDIER out of his dorm. "Maybe I should call the attack squad…"

"Uh…"Zack's body felt so cold. "Where am I?" He laid his hands on the ground, trying to lift himself up. His hands patted against the cold cement and felt the broken glass. Alarmed, Zack rose to his feet.

"What the-? Ha! Heh heh heh…I don't believe it!" Zack scratched the back of his head, confused as to how he had escaped the breaker that was keeping him prisoner. Broken glass was scattered across the floor including the tubes and wires that were injected into his skin. One syringe lay by his feet, full of the green ooze that was supposed to be injected into his body.

"Looks like one didn't get to me. I should be grateful I escaped the last one I suppose." Zack held up the syringe and threw it against the wall, spilling the contents.

"There he is! I thought he was unconscious!" One SOLDIER and one Lieutenant ran into the room.

"He was a minute ago!" The Soldier pulled out his sword.

"Get him!" Lieutenant Gus loaded his gun, as he and the SOLDIER charged Zack.

'Think fast.' Zack prepared himself for the attack. The SOLDIER ran towards Zack swinging his sword to the left. Zack lunged backwards and to the right. Bullets flew past him. The SOLDIER lunged his sword at his opponent but was pushed back as Zack ducked, pressing his fist into the man's stomach. He then grabbed the arm that was holding the sword.

"Be careful!" The lieutenant ran to the side of his companion, preparing to shoot Zack. But it was too late. Zack, with lightening speed, twisted the SOLDIER's arm breaking the wrist. He then kneed the man in the stomach. Zack rolled across the hunched SOLDIER's back grabbing the handle of the sword, ripping it from his hands. As he landed to the side of his victim, he swung the sword over his head and down towards the lieutenant. One swing brought the man down and then another back towards his right brought the SOLDIER down as well. All his damage was done in a matter of seconds.

"How did they get into SOLDIER?" Zack was amazed that he beat them so easily. Everything seemed so fast. He was not even sure how he defeated them so quickly. "Man, this place has gone downhill since I've been gone. Lazy, slow bastards." Zack looked down at himself and turned red in the face. He just realized that he was completely naked.

"Ah! What!" Zack tried to undress the SOLDIER so he could wear the uniform and possibly escape unharmed, but the sound of footsteps approaching sent him running behind some abandoned machinery.

'Shit! The attack squad!' Zack lowered himself to the floor so he wouldn't be seen. The attack squad ran into the room, followed by the commander.

"Aw, shit! Look at this mess!" The commander rubbed his temples as one of the men checked for pulses.

"Dead, sir…It also seems he's missing his sword." Zack jumped back at what was said. 'I didn't mean to kill them…adrenaline rush must've gotten to me.' He lowered his head.

"Dammit! If they would've jes' moved him to the cell in the first place instead of wastin' time reporting to me, they'd both still be alive! Search the area!" The commander kicked a nearby box in aggravation. A SOLDIER came running into the room.

"Sir! Bigger issues at hand!" The SOLDIER saluted his leading officer.

"What can be more important than this?" The commander ran to the SOLDIER.

"Well…HE is here! And it seems that he stole a part of important research."

"He? How! Not now! I thought it was just a story! This couldn't get any worse…" The commander put his face in his hands.

"Afraid it does, sir." The SOLDIER pulled out his sword.

"WHAT?" The attack squad stopped everything and stared at their commander.

"Attention!" The SOLDIER announced to everyone in the room. "AVALANCHE has just arrived! We have a very serious matter at hand. Attack squad has new orders. Seek and destroy all intruders. The escapee is no concern of ours! They have sent another to take care of that problem. Now, you know your mission! Report by radio if anything or anyone out of the ordinary is seen! Move out!" The SOLDIER turned to the commander as the attack squad made their way to the lower floors.

"Who the hell made you commander?" The commander poked the SOLDIER in the chest.

"The President himself! You are relieved of your duties! You have to be out by tomorrow." The SOLDIER ran out of the room, leaving the ex-commander to himself.

"Goddamn Shinra!" He stormed out of the room; it was going to be a long night.

"Whew! Poor guy. That was rough. Now…I gotta get out of here and find some clothes." Zack slowly got up. "What the hell is AVALANCHE? And who is he? No matter. I'll have to thank whoever he is later. If it wasn't for the intrusion, I may still be a lab rat." Zack carefully looked out the door. He remembered the locker-room was on the 64th floor. He grabbed his new sword.

"Gotta be ready…who cares if I'm naked! It'll pose as a distraction!" Zack chuckled to himself as he darted out of the room. He had five floors to get down before he could get some 'cover'. He made it safely down to the 67th before he encountered a SOLDIER.

"Halt! Drop your-…" The SOLDIER stared at Zack in astonishment.

"Jealous?" Zack said as he ran his sword into the stomach of the SOLDIER. He made his way to the next floor, laughing to himself the whole way down. 'Maybe I shouldn't get dressed. That was way too effective!' He turned the corner of the 66th floor to come face to face with three attack squad officers.

"Freeze! Put your arms into the air!" They all pointed their guns but quickly froze and stared at Zack. He felt his face turn five shades of red. The attack squad all busted out laughing. One actually fell to the ground!

"Good God, son! Cover yourself up!" One of them threw a helmet at Zack to hold over himself.

"What are you thinking?" the second one asked.

"He must've heard about the intrusion and prepared for battle. Was in too much of a hurry to even get dressed! Go to the locker room man! Then go to work!" Laughing, the three men ran to the lower floor, leaving Zack in the hall unharmed.

"They thought I was in SOLDIER? Can't believe it! Must've been because of the sword. " Zack laughed and ran into the locker room. "Now…time to find something that fits." Zack checked all the lockers. Those that were locked were easily ripped from the hinges, which surprised Zack. "I see they even resorted to cheap equipment." He made his way to the last locker and finally found some uniform pants and an undershirt close to his size. "Always the last place you look…" He slipped them on. Luckily, he had the helmet and found some armor underneath the nearby bench.

"Pigs…never clean up after themselves." After he was dressed, he made his way to the elevator. "Now I can get out of here."

Zack easily made his way to the first floor. Whenever asked about where his uniform shirt was he easily replied that he could not find it and was in a hurry to stop the intruders. He only received one lecture. He was on his way to the front door when a lieutenant pulled him aside and complained that he was giving SOLDIER an unprofessional look. He did not even question why Zack was on the first floor instead of the upper levels. By that time Avalanche was already on the fiftieth floor.

"This was too easy. Thanks to the distractions, I am a free man! I'll have to meet this AVALANCHE also. I've got to thank them too." Zack ran out the front door, leaving the Shinra building behind. Removing the armor, he headed for the train station that would take him to the lower level beneath the plate.

"Won't she be surprised when she gets a look at me!" Zack smiled at the thought of his old girlfriend. He always loved her smile. She was so innocent, so cheerful, so…

"…Beautiful. Hope she didn't forget about me. I know I didn't forget her. I'll keep my promise." He could not wait to see her. He wanted to get to her as fast as he could. Zack called a cab to get to the train station. It was only a matter of minutes before he was in front of the massive ramps and brick building that was decorated with Shinra symbols. It was a beautiful sight. The sky was full of stars and the pale moon's light flowed down onto the platform. He headed down the steps and towards the door of the train.

"Last call! Sector Seven!" The conductor called out. Zack approached the man and paid for his ticket. Luckily the pants he stole had some spare change. He quietly made his way to a seat next to a window. Only a few passengers were on the train.

"Excuse me, but do you know what time it is?" Zack asked the old woman sitting across from him.

"Hmm? Oh…it is 3:35." The old women replied.

"Thanks." Zack leaned back against the seat and rested his head against the window.

"Is everything okay sweetie?" The old woman stared at him.

"Yeah…just a little tired." Zack smiled at her.

"Is that all? You look like you're nervous."

"Oh… I'm going to visit someone. I haven't seen her in a long time. I just hope she remembers me." Zack scratched his head.

"Oh! Young love! I remember what that was like. It's rare to see that anymore…especially in a place like this. Where are you heading?"

"Sector 5. That's where she lives." Zack leaned back again.

"Are you walking?" The old woman looked very concerned.

"Yeah…" Zack suddenly felt like he hadn't slept in days.

"If I had a vehicle, I'd drive you. Sorry kiddo. Well I wish you luck, son! I'll leave you alone now so you can get some rest! We'll be there in another half hour. And I bet that walk will be at least and hour." The woman looked out her window. Zack laid down in his seat and quickly fell asleep.

Aeris watched as Zack spun his sword around. She loved watching him practice. He was so quick and could move the sword with so much ease. It amazed her since his sword was so large. She used to make jokes that he had the sword to compensate for other things. She liked how she could get him frustrated and sometimes even blush. He was so cute when his cheeks turned pink.

"Are you almost done?" Aeris stood up and walked to him as he swung his sword over his head in circles. It always made her giggle when he did that. "Aren't you talented?" She said with sarcasm.

"Oh yeah…you're jes' jealous." Zack dropped his sword and ran to Aeris, picking her up and throwing her into the air and catching her. Aeris screamed and grabbed onto his shoulders with all her might. She hated it when he threw her into the air. He could throw her so high sometimes. Laughing, Zack set her on the ground and began tickling her.

"Stop! Stop! No!" Aeris grabbed for his hands but was not strong enough to remover them from her sides. She hit Zack in the chest and shoved him to the ground and jumped on top of him. Zack felt the soft grass against his back and the gentle breeze. He could hardly feel Aeris' weight on top of him.

"You're a feisty little thing!" He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to his face.

"And you're cute." Aeris poked him on the nose and gave him a peck on his lips.

"Cute? I'm cute? I think you're the one who is cute." He kissed her back.

"Ok…handsome…manly…" she got closer and closer until her nose was against his.

"yeah?" Zack closed his eyes. He loved the way she smelled. Her hair smelled clean and fresh and her clothes always smelled like flowers.

"Yeah…and…sexy." Aeris kissed Zack. He pulled her as close as he could. He could feel her heart beating. Their kiss continued. Aeris moved her hands to his face. Zack moved his hands to her chest. He rolled over, placing Aeris beneath him. Her hands moved to his chest and began moving slowly downward. Zack felt dizzy.

'She always makes me feel this way!' Zack nuzzled her neck and brought his lips next to her ear.

"I Love you…" Zack closed his eyes as he felt her hands slide lower below his abdomen. He felt her lips close to his ears and she began to whisper.

"Wake up!"

'What?'

LINE

"Wake up! Were here!"

Zack opened his eyes to see the old woman staring at him.

"Better get going. You have a long walk. I didn't want to keep you here while you were still sleeping. Who knows what might happen." The old woman smiled.

"Oh! Thanks…I didn't realize I was asleep." Zack stood up and helped the lady off the train.

"Would you like any help getting home?" Zack asked the woman.

"Oh! Heavens no! I live just a block away by that bar over there. I'll be fine. I make this walk almost every day. Besides, I have this!" The old woman pulled out a can of pepper spray.

"Whoa! You're tough." Zack laughed as he ran his hand through his hair.

"Damn right. There are so many hooligans around here. Anyways, thanks for the offer. Are you going to be ok? I imagine you will be with that sword on your back. You work for Shinra?" The old woman frowned.

"Oh! No! I used to though a long time ago. I just got back from a long journey. That's why I had this." Zack smiled. "I'll never work for them again!" He laughed nervously.

"Oh…Well they used to be something good years ago but now their nothing but trouble. I better get going. I need my rest. Good luck with the lady. Good bye, hon." The woman turned to leave.

"Thank you. And take care of yourself." Zack turned to head towards Aeris house.

"Kids these days. I like him. Too bad I'm not twenty anymore!" The old woman cackled to herself. "You don't meet a cutie like that everyday! A haircut wouldn't hurt though." The old woman entered her small cottage.

LINE

"I can't believe how much this place has changed over the years. It is so much more dangerous here." Zack had encountered a few monsters on his way to sector five.

"I wonder what caused these monsters. I hope she's ok!" Zack suddenly felt panicked. He ran as fast as he could through the slums and the empty playground where he and Aeris used to spend time together. By the time he had reached the house, it was daybreak. 'Never could see the sunlight very well through the plate.' But Aeris house was an exception. It was always beautiful there. The sun shown through a little and every once in a while a breeze could be felt. He was happy to see that nothing there had changed. The house looked the same and the flowers in the garden looked as healthy as ever. He ran to the front door and began knocking as loud as he could. People began walking the streets. It must have been time for everyone to get ready for work.

"Aeris? Are you home?" Zack knocked for what seemed like hours, constantly getting glares and weird looks from the neighboring people and workers walking the streets.

"She's not there! She hasn't been there for days! Even weeks! Poor thing was kidnapped by Shinra. I don't know where the mother went but she left too. All in a hurry, never said a thing." A woman in a black, tight dress walked by and told the information to Zack. He figured she must've worked at the Honey Bee Inn. She did not stop to explain more but continued on her way to work.

"Kidnapped? By Shinra! I- I was just there? It can't be!" Frustrated, Zack kicked the door. It busted in like it had no hinges. The ease of breaking things was making it all worse. He walked into the house, calling out Aeris' name. He ran into the kitchen, living room, and up the stairs to her bedroom. Hardly anything was touched. There was no sign of someone moving to another house. Everything was the same as it was when he left. Zack ran out of the house and into the garden.

"Aeris! No! I failed you! I was there! If I'd known, I would have looked for you!" He fell to his knees, covering his face. For all Zack knew, she could already be dead or dissected on Hojo's table in his lab. Zack felt his eyes burning.

"I swear…if anything happens to her…" A loud ringing began in Zack's ears. He grabbed his head. "What's happening?" The sound got louder.

'It's the same sound I heard before I blacked out in the breaker.' Zack felt dizzy. Everything was fading away. The ground shook beneath him.

"Is…Are the flowers…no…the ground?" Zack fell to the ground, lying in the flowers surrounding him.

LINE

"Zack?" Aeris was sitting on the fence to her garden watching Zack chew on a blade of grass as he lay on the ground.

"Hmm?" He looked up at her with his blue eyes. How she loved those eyes. They seemed unreal.

"What's going to happen?" She lowered her head.

"What?" Concerned, Zack sat up. "What are you talking about?"

"You know…in the future." A tear slid down Aeris face. Zack ran to her and held her.

"Aeris? What's wrong? What's going on in that little head of yours?" Zack lifted her chin up to look at him.

"You're going to leave aren't you?" Aeris' large green eyes stared into the eyes of her love.

"H- how did you know?" Zack looked at his boots.

"I can see it in your eyes. Besides…I just know." Aeris jumped off the fence and faced away from Zack.

"Aeris…I was trying to think of a way to tell you. I won't be long. It's not like I'm going to be gone forever." Zack put his hands on her shoulders.

"You shouldn't but I have this feeling." Aeris hugged him. Zack hated this. He hated how he always had to leave her, hated how his occupation always made her cry.

"Tell you what, after this mission, I'm through…" Zack put a reassuring smile on his face.

"What?" Aeris quickly pulled his face to hers. "You mean-"

"I'll quit! I'm through with Shinra! Besides, I've been thinking of doing some other work, maybe missionary work. It'll be a lot closer and not so painful. I promise." He laughed as Aeris squealed with delight.

"You promise! You promise you'll come right back and be with me?" She jumped up and down.

"Yes! I promise! I'll be with you forever! Nothing can hold me back!" Zack put his hand in his pocket and felt the black case that was holding something very special. He did not know how he was going to ask her. He thought about it, but nothing seemed creative. He held it close to him for in case the perfect moment would arrive. So far, this moment seemed almost perfect, but since he was going to quit now and this was his last mission, he figured he might as well wait. He wanted to ask her outside, away from the plate. After the mission, Zack would take Aeris outside of Midgar, out to dinner and a vacation. Then, while they were alone and the time was right, he'd pop the question.

"I don't believe it!" Aeris jumped up and wrapped her arms around Zack. Then she quickly fell down and lay in the flowers. "What a great day!"

Zack was about to lie next to her when everything went black again. A solitary light fell upon Aeris' form. She was covered in blood and her eyes were wide with fear. Her pupils were barely seen. Aeris was dead.

LINE

"Aeris!" Zack lunged forward. He was in the garden but Aeris was nowhere near him. "Uh…a dream."

Zack slowly stood up and looked around, wondering how long he had been out. He turned to walk out of the garden when he heard a noise from the rooftop of Aeris' house. He turned quickly to hear an electric cackling noise and to see a flash of red and blue.

Ok! Third one up! What do you think? I wonder…what should happen next? This one took me a little longer to write obviously! A lot longer than the last two chapters. I had a lot of fun writing this one! During the battle scenes and the intrusion part of the story, I listened to the Black Mages version of the battle theme from final fantasy VII! Haha. It was quite entertaining.

I'll try to get the next one posted quickly. Once again, I like reviews! Oh…I ran out of cheddar…