Part Four

As they made their way to the Shinra building, tensions had begun to rise as no one spoke a word throughout most of the journey. The only sounds were the revving engines of the motorbikes as they headed topside to the main Shinra building. Cloud still didn't understand he was doing this. True, Aerith had asked him to help them, but he how he could ever want to help the very people who had been trying to kill him and the entirety of Midgar. Turks couldn't be trusting of anything. What was to say they wouldn't turn on them after Cloud and the others had helped them?

"There should be a hidden elevator once we get to the build-"

"I KNOW where the elevator is.." Cloud grunted, cutting Rude off. "I've been there before remember?"

Rude went silent. He didn't appreciate how hostile Cloud was acting but he supposed he couldn't blame him, they were still enemies after all.

"Besides which," Cloud continued, not bothering to hide his annoyance. "We'll have to be ready for any of the guards who might get in our way."

Rude grunted in agreement. He turned to look at the others who were close by.

"I should have guess Hojo was behind it," Rude began to inform them. "Reno had been acting very strangely."

"Yeah.. Mako would do that.." Cloud cut in. "If Hojo's using one of you guys for his experiments, it's possible that something big is going to happen.." he said the last bit more to himself than anyone else.

"I hope Reno is okay.." Aerith admitted.

Cloud snapped his attention toward her, causing her to go silent for a moment before she continued.

"I mean.. Being forced into what's happening-"

"I'm sure he's fine." Cloud interrupted. "Now, we need to focus on the plan."

With that being said, everyone went silent again. It wasn't long before they finally reached the building. They soon slowed to a halt as they made it to the main gate. They took cover behind many of the highly stacked crates and peered out, finding the Shinra patrols were gathered all around the main entrance to the building.

"There's so many guards." Aerith whispered.

"It's possible that Hojo had asked them to make sure no one could get past them and interrupt his work." Rude replied.

"So, what's the plan?" asked Tifa.

"We could make a distraction." Aerith suggested.

"What we'll do is we get IN there FIGHT those **stards.." replied Barret, speaking for the first time during the whole ordeal.

"That's probably the best thing to do.." said Cloud. "It's better to take them out now rather than later.."

With that said, Cloud readied the Buster Sword and charged toward the battalion of guards. Almost instantly, the guards readied their weapons and began to open-fire as Tifa and the others charged into the fray. Cloud moved left and right as the shots zipped past him. He winced as one of the bullets caught him in the shoulder. He however, refused to back down as Cloud fought against the Security Officers. The sounds of gunfire and the clashing blades echoed through the air as Cloud and the others continued their fight. Then, at long last, they had managed to knock the last guard unconscious.

Rude made his way to the front of the building and began to type in a type of code. As the doors slid open, Cloud wordlessly strapped the blade back in its place and made his way into the building with the others following behind him. As they entered the main hall of the building, they were taken aback as they saw a familiar man with long dark hair lying sprawled on the floor. Rude recognized him immediately.

"Tseng!"

He ran to the man's aid and was surprised to see a massive bruise running along the right side of Tseng's face. Tseng let out a groan as he began to stir.

"What's happened here?" Rude asked, clearly in shock at what's happening.

"Ambush.." Tseng grunted, wincing in pain. "The guards.. They attacked me from behind.."

As Tseng looked up, he was shocked to see Cloud standing before him with the rest of the Avalanche team.

"I brought them here to help Reno." Rude informed him, taking notice of Tseng's shocked expression.

"Tell us, what's going on." Cloud demanded, stepping toward him. "Why does Hojo want Reno?"

"That's.. What I don't know.. All I can tell you is Dr. Hojo had a plan.. After you had taken Aerith from the lab, he had said he had a new plan."

Cloud stared at him silently as he contemplated what Tseng had just told him. He turned his gaze toward the far wall and silently began to make his way toward it. Cloud could remember when he and Zack had been in the labs many months before. He turned his attention toward the head leader of the Turks.

"What's the code?"

"I got your code right HERE!" said Barret.

Everyone jumped in surprise ad Barret suddenly open-fired on the panel connected to the wall, causing it to short circuit.

"Hey!" Rude shouted. "That's destruction of PROPERTY!"

"Did you want our help or DIDN'T you?" Cloud snapped back.

Rude wanted to shout something but soon went silent as the doors to the hidden elevator slid open.

"Then let's go." Cloud said.

They entered the elevator without another word, Tseng managing to quickly get up and join them on the journey down to the secret lab.

x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Dr. Hojo was tapping away at the computer when he heard the commotion of gunfire. He however didn't turn around as the newly installed doors exploded inward.

"Must you keep doing that?" Tseng grumbled in annoyance.

"Ah, how nice to see you again." said the doctor, soon turning to face them.

"What have you DONE!?" Rude shouted, ignoring Dr. Hojo's words.

Dr. Hojo let out a cruel laugh.

"Why I have been only following through with my newest project."

Dr. Hojo stepped aside to gesture to the holding tank filled with a bright green blue fluid and inside the chamber was the form of Reno. His eyes were shut as he floated there, unaware of the fate that had befallen him.

"May I present.. Project R."

Author's Note: This part took a bit longer than I wanted it to.. I've had a lot of things going on, so it might take some time to update.. I may need a bit of help with the next few chapters.. So, some comments would be appreciated..