A/N – Okay, there you have it. I took me a while because I had issues with the timeline, some new/old characters and stuff but all is sorted out now. Not to mention real life has been cruel to me… and finals are approaching. Which mean I'll plead you patience and I'll have to placate the force of my muse which seems to energize especially when I have lots of stuff to study.

Well. So I introduce you here Professor John Medina, a OC of mine as well, which will take an important part in this fic. I wanted very much to have Gast on this, but FF7 timeframe was cruel with my intentions LOL and so, much to my dismay, I couldn't include him in the story.

Okay so, enjoy your readings. :D

Chapter 4. Closer to Reality.

I realized how thorny it could be trying to get rid of that ridiculous, dislocated reaction from my head, the scene re-playing, over and over. Not to mention the way that woman gazed upon me... It looked like she had seen evil itself. I stood for a while in the questioning room, quiet and staring at the void, accompanied by a very silent and guilty Soldier 1st class. Zack Fair remained with his arms down, a frown on his face and a total I-don't-have-words-for-this expression filling the air.

Which annoyed me. He wasn't a trainee anymore, he should behave and act like a man would, with a little more of… aspiration. Not to mention toughness.

Without saying a word, I exited the questioning room and I entered the contiguous one, where a pair of astonished men remained, most likely still affected with what had happened previously. Yes, the explosion of gibberish and hysterical attitudes from that woman.

Well. The least I could do was pretend I didn't notice the surprise on their faces… or I would insult them. No worthy authority men working for Shinra should feel surprised with such folly show.

"Do we have the whole interview on tape?" I asked, eyeing them with a hard stare.

"Yes, Sir. General." The man corrected immediately, as if he had recognized his previous mistake.

Good…

"I would like a copy for the labs and another one for the file." I said, hoping that pair of frightened birds would get it done quickly. Instead, they resumed to stare at me. As if my request had surprised them. "Now." I ordered, my patience now running low. Damn, this was almost like dealing with irrational life forms.

In a rush, one of them headed to the panel at my left side and got to work.

Yes, you do that you idiot.

In the silence that surrounded us, my mind sounded ruthless towards these men. I loathed weakness, incompetence and… the way these men stared at me, as if I was some sort of alien. I sensed the jealousy and the upcoming rage they felt, only because I was who I was and I used my authority to do what I had to do, to uphold the law and make sure everything – absolutely everything went on according to my standards. Which were the company's standards as well.

A noisy artificial beep interrupted my thoughts. The copies were done.

"I believe we're done here, gentlemen." I said, eyeing them both, as they stood avoiding my stare. Pathetic…, my mind reacted. "Thank you for your cooperation." I finally declared, and I left the place without even hesitating.

Being close to those men was insulting enough to my ego. And, without further justification, I took that woman's file with me.

Zack's POV.

"Sephiroth."

As I walked on the General's tail, I tried to get his attention. Clearly, this situation needed to be re-evaluated. I had been caught by surprise and I knew I shouldn't have been that reckless while I was interviewing a suspect. But… the whole thing freaked me out a little. That woman's eyes… burned with a very disturbing recognition. And it… made me feel uncomfortable. And I knew the General didn't enjoy the whole scene as well. For several reasons.

"Sephiroth!" I insisted, reaching his form and walking side by side with him. He seemed completely oblivious to my presence as he walked with the woman's file on his hands. When we finally reached the outside, a windy, cloudy day bathed our faces.

The General kept walking until - finally - he spoke.

"That was a lousy demonstration in there, Fair." His voice was tough and annoyed. "You are 1st class, not a cadet." He added, without eyeing me.

Damn, I couldn't help but to feel guilty.

"I swear, I don't know how on Earth she-"

Okay, that seemed to grasp his attention. Not only the man faced me but he also stopped walking.

"We have a code of conduct to follow. A code you shamefully disregarded."

Yeah well, thing was… I wasn't the only one targeted inside that questioning room. This whole blaming-it-all-on-one-man wasn't just fair.

"Come on, she knows both of us."

My sudden declaration seemed to shake him a bit. But, as to be expected, the man in front of me didn't flinch a bit. Which was very normal, considering what I knew of him since… well, forever.

"I realized that."

The General's tone was, if all, annoyed. Yeah, well, welcome to the club. I didn't exactly like being recognized by some random, lost female held captive.

"Doesn't it bother you?" I asked him, as we kept walking in silence. "How come a total and complete unknown, un-registered woman knows us?"

"It's a matter of time until we find out who she is." The General answered, now completely calm. Man, he sure was stiff! "Most likely, she's a by-product of war. Her delusional speech illustrates it pretty well. And besides, you know that those against the system sometimes do not register their offspring so that we can't be able to track them efficiently. "

That was some great theory. As great as freaking disturbing.

"Do you think we killed her family or friends while we were on mission?" I asked, somehow shocked. Well, I knew war wasn't exactly benefic for the most of those involved. Mainly those who were caught in the middle of it. Innocent.

"It is a theory to consider." He said. "But that is not for us to worry right now. The Scientists are handling with her and if our services are needed for the investigation, we'll be summoned."

Oh, man. Another potential lab specimen? That was cruel.

"Who's taking her?" I asked, curiosity taking me over.

"What?"

The General's reaction was weird. It seemed I had asked him something very inappropriate and he was eyeing me like I was a misbehaved brat of some sort. Oh, come on, it was only natural I wanted to know who was in charge for the mystery woman from now on.

"The lab team responsible for her." I rephrased, hoping I had made my point. The man didn't even bother to make eye contact, as we now made way inside our building, the SOLDIER headquarters.

"That is not of my concern."

Sometimes the General was able to behave a ruthless, cold bastard.

Well.

Most of the times.

General's POV.

Two days had passed. The gossip about the abandoned woman found in the training area was now dissipating.

Advantages of remaining in the lab headquarters…, I thought, while I, absentmindedly, went through the reports of our last mission – the Wutai war, now definitely brought to an end.

Yes, well, being in the labs included that specific benefit – the advantage of vanishing. At least metaphorically speaking.

Closing the report book and putting it aside, I faced the computer screen. Still I remained, my eyes on that black desktop with several folders decorating its left side.

I had to admit it, curiosity blossomed inside me.

Sighing, I blinked several times, averting my eyes from the screen for some brief moments. I didn't like not being in control. Ever. And this… this situation was clearly bugging me. The whole scenario, the way all this had happened… it wasn't normal. Something was clearly out of the tracks here. I felt it.

But I didn't know where I should start looking to ease my inopportune interest about this particular case.

In a sudden movement, my hand reached the computer mouse and I started the search engine. With easiness, I reached the Science Division Archives without any problem. Patiently, I searched for the file number I had with me.

A total of two pages – lab observation and tests were being made. The results hadn't come out yet. So, that left me only with the observational diaries – physical and psychological. In the last 48 hours that woman had been screened like she was in quarantine and submitted to mental tests, all of them retrieved as normal. Well. Not a routine I would enjoy particularly. I had had my fair dose years ago.

At the head of that document, the name of the responsible for the case popped up immediately. Professor John Medina. Which was a certified physician, as well.

Well, who would have known? She's with the best…, I concluded to myself.

Right before Zack Fair bursted through the door, walking inside my office. Closing swiftly the pages I had been searching on and relaxing against my comfortable chair, I eyed Zack with the most censoring gaze ever. His manners were terrible.

"How many times did I advise you to knock?"

However, his answer couldn't be less out of subject.

"She's with Medina."

I know. Well obviously someone had been sneaking into that woman's file as well.

"I am not going to waste my precious time asking how you obtained that information." I said, my tone annoyed.

"Who's the man?" Zack smiled widely, pointing at himself, as if he had become a war hero for finding something very important.

"Humpf."

Yes, well, my patience wasn't much for such childish attitudes. But Fair seemed completely oblivious to my irritation.

"So, what's your theory?"

"On what?"

"About our mystery woman."

Oh, there we go. Again. This was worst than babysitting a five-year old.

"I won't repeat myself, Fair."I declared, now visibly annoyed by his idiotic insistence. "Besides, there is more to worry about right now."

"Such as?"

Ah, the ignorance of a recently-declared-1st class.

"AVALANCHE." I informed, and added "Genesis and Angeal betrayal."

Automatically, I realized how Zack's form stiffened. The reference to Angeal was painful to him, it was plain obvious.

"Anything new?" He asked, now more serious.

"It seems an attack is being planned." I clarified. "We must keep our barriers tight."

Zack didn't comment. His mind was too busy remembering.

"I know Angeal was your mentor." I admitted, but I had to remind him of his new position now. "But orders are to uphold. And there is no place for forgiveness when it comes to desertion."

Zack gulped, and I could see he totally disagreed with my tough position about this matter. It didn't surprise me though. Zack still had a vast path to walk by to become a 1st class… at least mentally speaking.

"I know that."

Did he?, I asked myself. Well, verily I had my doubts. So I decided to change the subject.

"So, let us get acquainted with the details." I affirmed, more like ordering, as I rose from my chair and started walking to the door. "I still would like to practice today."

"Training room? Is it operational now?"

I eyed Zack with a censoring gaze. When was he going to stop making silly references to what had happened in that place almost six months ago? However, I was rewarded with a most destroying, genuine smile as he spoke.

"Don't make that face! I heard you and Genesis almost destroyed the facility with-"

"Let's get going, Fair." I interrupted, opening the door of my office and making my way out of the office.

"Fine." I heard Zack say, and I could almost guess the bored frown on his face, because I didn't fuel his oh-I'm-so-funny side.

Anyway, this was me. Severe and cutting to the chase.

There was no place for playing around.

There was no place for being nice.

There was no time for playing human.

Elie's POV

In the process of waking up, the most disturbing thing was not being able of moving – at all. Mainly because I had something trapping me. My arms, my legs… my throat felt sore, my whole body hurt in a way I couldn't exactly classify. And my right arm… uh, what had been drilling there?

Hazed, so confuse and sleepy, I wasn't able of deciding where I was... or when. Would it be Sunday? Oh God, I hoped so. That way I could sleep a little bit more… I felt so tired. And I had had the most disturbing dream. Vivid, so real and tangible, with smells and touches and… pain, so real that it… damn, I still felt it. The pain in that dream? I felt it right now. As if I had been pinched in my upper arm – for real. Like a freaking vaccine from hell. And those intervening in that dream?

Whoa, the most unlikely characters in the RPG scenario. I gulped with difficulty, my throat thick as my mind chastised my stupid thinking. That's for videogaming like a glutton, Elie…

Finally my eyes opened – slowly, lazily, blinking. I was in a room. Grey and green but comfy, I remained covered with a blanket. I breathed with some difficulty. I didn't know why, but the air seemed thicker than… than what I was used to.

And there was a presence right next to me.

"You're awake."

My face followed that voice, and as my lazy sight processed the view… I concluded I didn't recognize that person in front of me. Which was good, considering the circumstances. I had had a lot of unadverted recognizing lately. Even if those were just dreams… it felt more real than I would like to.

But… it would not hurt to ask.

"Do I know you?" I asked, my voice a little rasp.

"I'm afraid not, Eleanor." The man said, smiling slightly. Oh, what do you know? The white coat with that matching tie and shirt beneath… were indeed a very soothing view. He had glossy black hair, with warm eyes and masculine facial lines, perfectly shaved and a dedication that perspired beyond his stance. An handsome man – totally dedicated to his work. Which was a shame. Genes like these shouldn't get mislaid like that.

"Are you feeling better?" He insisted, while he insisted on writing in that thing he had with him. What was that, a tablet of some sort?

"I-I… don't know. I guess…" I declared, genuinely.

"What do you remember?" He asked, now more serious towards me. His facial expression now revealed gravity. Well, what could I tell him anyway? The truth? Yeah, it seemed like a very good option right now.

"Uh… a horrendous nightmare with the most unlikely personalities on it."

"Who?"

I sighed, embarrassed. Was there any way of saying this without making a fool out of myself?

"Virtual ones. I do videogame a lot, so… you figure how my mind mixed General Sephiroth and Zack Fair in the most stupid encounter ever-"

"Yes, well… your reaction was somehow… unexpected." He said, interrupting me. "They were caught by surprise as well."

My eyes widen and I felt a shiver running over my spine. And that wasn't because it was cold.

"What?" I whispered, my heartbeat peaking at each breath I took. Oh-uh. Why had I the feeling I wasn't going to like what the man was about to say to me?

"They had to call us to calm you down. Why did you react like that?"

They. My God. They who?... the gang coming right out of a freaking videogame? Was this even possible? Was I still dreaming? Was this man playing tricks on me?

Okay, this definitely wasn't funny.

"I dreamed. It was a dream." I said, convinced it was so. Or, at least, I tried very hard to convince myself of that.

"You were terrified." The face of that man revealed how well he had seen me in a brink of madness. "Of whom?"

His insistence weighted tons. I didn't know what to say in response. Was there any easy way of saying…

Reflexively, my eyes left his and I scanned the room I was in. Swiftly, I concluded I wasn't at a hospital. I wasn't in an innocent bedroom. I was… in a chamber. No windows, steel doors and a… observatory, hidden behind that huge mirror by my left side.

My God.

I had a feeling all my strength was abandoning me. As well as all the blood from my face, judging by the man's stare on me.

"Professor Medina? A minute, please?"

We both looked in the direction of that… woman. It was a young woman, with a white coat as well. And with papers on her hands. I didn't miss the beep sounds as the door behind her closed... alarmed door. Metallic, shiny grey, a sign of high – very high security system.

Breathing audibly, I closed my eyes out of despair.

It was more than obvious now. I was held here. In this place, held like a prisoner, like a-

"Just hold on, okay?" The man said, as he approached the woman, which remained stiff right there next to the door as if I had the plague or something.

I nodded in response, although the man didn't see me. And while the professor whispered with that woman, mouthing words I couldn't understand… because they talked in a low tone, purposely, I realized it was about me. It had to be about me.

This isn't happening, I thought. Where was I? What was this place? All of the sudden, the most terrible thought occurred to me.

Oh my God, what if the freaking nightmare from hell hadn't ended? What if this was just a prolongation of the same thing back in the questioning room… but how? It was clear I was somewhere else now. Was I was trapped in this dream-state, deep inside its twisted reality… how did I end up there anyway? And why didn't I even wake up from this constant hallucination state?

In that moment, all the theories crossed my mind.

Was I dead? Was this heaven? This game-reality thing all around me, was this after-life? Had I died that night at the abandoned complex? Was death that un-painful?

My eyes scanned the man's silhouette, and I realized I didn't recognize him at all. Not like I recognized the General, Zack Fair and the name Shinra… whose symbol was sprayed all over the sheets on the bed I laid on. This was crazy. Insane. Completely irrational, unreal and… yep, that was it.

I was definitely out of my mind.

Reflexively, my breathing started to become a little urgent. I didn't know why, but this air… this air asphyxiated me. Since when had I developed asthma? Closing my eyes and focusing on performing steady breaths, I heard that man's voice once more.

"Breathing trouble?"

I nodded. "A little…"

On my God. Sweet despair.

"I'll run some tests on you. Is that okay?"

Yeah, whatever.

"Fine." I whispered, my eyes focused on the gray ceiling above me.

"I'll bring my team and we will scan you okay? It won't hurt, it's just tests."

Scan me. Test me. What was I to this people anyway? A freaking alien? As my mind processed his words, I couldn't say anything. I couldn't answer. I couldn't scream. I couldn't cry. I froze, in time and space, lost. Truly… lost.

Slowly, my eyes met his, and in there that man remained, next to my bed, by my right side. Warm. Understanding. And yet, avid of testing me inside and outside.

"Where am I?" I asked, hoping he could tell me something to ease my mind.

It didn't happen.

"Shinra, Science Division." He informed. "I'm Professor John Medina."

I breathed in and out deeply, closing my eyes out of instinct.

And then I felt how hopelessness had the power to drill a hole in your head… at least virtually.

A/N – I don't think it would be easy for someone to admit the possibility of time/dimension travelling. And Elie will take her time figuring that out – as well as all the characters from FF7. Which will be funny to watch :)

Tell me your opinion - read and review, I can't wait for it! :D