Immediately everyone noticed changes within Cloud. He would occasionally be lost in thought. His eyes were seeing but his brain switched off, focused on something not there. Then there was the constant humming.
Half the time he wasn't aware he was doing it. Cloud would just be walking by, going over reports, getting coffee. Anything and he would be humming along.
"Man, he reminds me of Aerith." Reno comments.
"That, he does." Tseng agreed, considering the new connection.
"You want to search into the files containing Aerith?" Chadley considered for a moment when Tseng brought the suggestion to him.
"I don't know if I have access, but I can try."
To their surprise, they were able to access the files. Tseng read them over briefly, all the while Chadley excitedly compared the molecular cells with Cloud's. It didn't take long for results.
"They are similar in nature, but Cloud's is a bit off. The foreign cells had become one with Jenova, so much so that they cannot be separated. And it looks like as time wears on, Cloud will be the same."
"But will he degrade like all the other Soldiers?" Tseng frowned. This was something everyone feared.
"From my studies, Cloud is in perfect health. The cells took to him, while for most Soldiers their bodies rejected Jenova cells." Chadley studied the chart for a moment. "If only I knew what made him different? Then we can create a cure for the Soldiers."
"Careful with where your mind takes you." Tseng advised, sending the boy a warning glance.
"Oh, I don't intend to make the same mistakes Hojo did. After I find this cure, I don't want to be anywhere near Jenova cells again. Some things should have remained buried." Chadley proudly assured.
"I will personally hold you to that." Tseng promised.
"My brother is the cure to the Soldiers?" Rufus raised an eyebrow when the information was brought to him.
"Perhaps we can make a test run on a handful of Soldiers and see if by giving them Cloud's cells, then it might cure them from a slow painful death." Chadley suggested. So they went along with this plan of action.
It was around this time Cloud learned how Rufus liked to have loose ends taken care of. He had inquired for Roche. He had suspected what the Turks had done, but he didn't want to believe.
"Why do you always have loose ends taken care of as your first option? We could have used him. And then there's Tifa. She was my childhood friend, you know." Cloud berates him.
"I don't have time for potential threats. The girl is still alive, isn't she? Why are you so hurt over this?" Rufus didn't see what was wrong.
"Because someone has to be your voice of reason." Cloud sent a glance at Tseng, who remained silent.
"For a second you sounded like our mother." The president admits.
"Well you could, too. If you stopped thinking and acting like the old man." The younger blonde takes his leave after that comment. Rufus was too stunned to react.
Tseng hid his small smile at the interaction.
xXx
Then one day, Cloud receives a call.
"Cloud speaking." He answered without checking the number.
"Blondie! You're awake? About damn time!"
Huh? Oh. Avalanche.
"What do you want?" He motions Tseng over. His boss made his way, and Cloud put the phone on speaker.
"So uh, we got a problem."
"Besides the whole world after your asses?" Cloud couldn't help himself.
"You think you funny ain't ya?" Barret growled, ready to start a fight.
Tseng signaled for him to cut to the chase.
"Just tell me what the problem is already."
"Now hold up - " There was rustling, as if someone was struggling to take the phone.
"We found Sephiroth." Tifa's voice spoke, proving victorious in taking the phone.
Silence. Cloud felt his heart pound. From the corner of his eye he caught sight of that ever looming figure staring at him. He did his best to ignore the Hallucination.
"What's the catch?" He tried not to sound too eager.
"He's buried inside a giant mako crystal."
"Thing is, we can't get through to him ourselves." Barret cuts in. "But I got a proposition for ya suits."
Cloud shared a look with his boss. Slowly the others had gathered around them when they heard Sephiroth's name. Tseng nods in silent approval.
"We're listening." Cloud states cautiously.
"In exchange for the information of where Sephiroth is located, you guys lay off your search for us."
"That's a bit demanding." Tseng frowns.
"Oh, but to sweeten the deal? We got Hojo. Alive. And my friend here isn't too happy to just let him live, but he's willing to work with you lot to get his revenge."
'I want him.' Cloud mouths to his boss.
Tseng silently considers, weighing the options. He would have preferred to consult Rufus. Instead Cloud grew impatient and pulled his position as the younger brother for the first time.
"I will do it with or without your permission."
"... Very well. We will call off our search for you." Tseng reluctantly agreed.
"Excuse me? Did I just hear that correctly?" Rufus appeared, frowning.
"To get Hojo? Alive? It's worth it." Cloud glared.
"And send you straight into the arms of Sephiroth? After what Hojo just done to you? No, you're not going."
"I can protect myself!" Cloud argued.
"You're staying here. And that's the end of it. Tseng, you go. I trust you to handle this situation with care." Rufus refused to budge.
"I'm going!" Cloud put his foot down.
"No. You will not. As your president and older brother, I cannot allow it."
"You can't protect me forever! I can fight my own battles."
"Yes. I have no doubt you can. But not out there. Not where anything can go wrong. Here we have the advantage. We can control the fight, intervene should anything happen." Rufus stared him down.
Cloud stubbornly glared. This was his fight! His chance! Although some part of hin recognized the reasoning behind the president. Even so he didn't want to back down.
"Look who's acting like father now." Rufus points out.
Tseng fidgets, it was the closest Cloud ever seen the man flinch. Even the other Turks grew nervous. Just as the confrontation was about to boil over Cloud turns away and crosses his arms.
"You're a real handful." He said darkly.
"The same could be said of you brother. Tseng, I want you out in the hour."
"Yes, sir."
