Chapter 2. Caught.

Cloud's POV.

I hated that damned phone.

I would give everything just to be free of everything this world offered. Technology, magic, lifestream… if all could just vanish and leave me alone, I would finally be at peace.

I liked my bike, I liked my swords. But the rest was simply too much.

The wind blew, forcefully strong against my face as I forced the pedal, speeding me up to a blizzard velocity. The sensation was freeing, it was all that mattered.

The phone buzzed for the third time - I felt it against my thigh, inside my pocket.

Damn. I would have to answer that. So much insistence couldn't be a good thing. I reduced the bike speed gradually until I stopped completely. The phone kept buzzing. When I finally grabbed the damned thing, a very familiar voice sounded on the other side of the line. Tifa. She had been the one trying to call me senseless for the whole afternoon.

"Yeah." I said, my voice neutral.

"Tseng called." Tifa declared, her voice tired. "He said it was urgent."

Oh, fuck. The head of the Turks calling out for me? Definitely - it couldn't be a good thing.

"Right." I whispered, annoyed. What was left of my day had been officially ruined.

"Will you be coming home soon?"

Tifa's tone made my heart heavy. She asked for my company every time she had a chance, albeit she did that discreetly. I knew she had feelings for me. And I knew, as well as she did, that I didn't like her that way. Honestly, I wish I did. She deserved someone who cared for her deeply, not just for sympathy.

And right now, I held her into a very high esteem - but nothing else.

I didn't love her.

And knowing that hurt her - I had seen had hurt in her eyes so many times…

"I don't know." I sighed. "Maybe."

"Fine."

She hang up, knowing I wouldn't disclose a word more. She knew me well enough already.

I stayed there, in that abandoned landscape, for several moments. I had the phone in my hand and indecisiveness overwhelming me.

Should I call Tseng? I thought, trying to guess what he needed me for this time. It had to be serious enough for him to make the call. Otherwise, any regular Turk would have done the deed. Right?

But of course. It had to be something serious enough, I finally concluded. My eyes landed on the phone screen and I sighed, not liking a bit the way I felt. My instinct was screaming - and I knew it wasn't a good thing. Instinct was something that I didn't take lightly.

So I decided to make the damned phone call.

"You wanted to talk to me?"

The line had been silent the whole time, only a faint beep revealing that Tseng had received the call. My tone seemed to take him by surprise.

"Strife. Yes, well…"

Oh-uh. Tseng hesitating? Bad news were coming, now I was sure of it. His silence was worrying.

"Well?"

"Something serious came up."

No shit.

"Care to specify?"

Silence invaded the line once again, as I sensed Tseng's discomfort.

"He is alive, Strife." Tseng declared. "There is a high probability of… him, being alive."

I felt a pang on my chest as I processed his words. He? There was no way Tseng could be referring to him.

"That is simply impossible." I declared at once. "I killed him, I… I saw him fall."

Tseng's words sounded unreal… offending, to a point. What the hell, he knew everything, he of all persons knew what had happened in that reactor and how I had killed the General, almost killing myself as well in the process. So why all this nonsense all of the sudden?

"I believe you. But the proofs are… irrevocable."

Tseng's one was assertive. He knew what he was talking about, I could feel it. All that came to my mind was the fact that I actually never had seen the General die. Lifestream had taken him, we assumed all that. But apart from all the theories, there would be no one capable of surviving to a fall and injuries just like the ones he had. Son of Jenova or not… he was not freaking immortal.

Right?

"Proofs?" I quoted, curious.

"As you well know, you who were manipulated with Mako… broadcast very characteristically."

I drew a deep breath, Tseng's speech worrying me terribly. "And the General… isn't different. As you well know."

Oh, man. Was this real? Him, the General? ALIVE? Deep in thinking, I didn't realize seconds were passing by.

"Strife?"

Wake up, man.

"I'm here."

"I need your help."

"What for?"

"We know where he is."

I closed my eyes, not yet believing what Tseng was actually saying. I was still processing the shock of coming to terms with the General's miraculous survival… and now Tseng was saying that he actually knew where the General was.

This was too much for a God damned shitty day.

"I'm on my way." I declared, shutting down the phone.

My peace of mind had been annihilated for good.

Tseng's POV.

I sighed as I put the phone to rest.

Well. It could have been worse. Cloud had taken the whole thing better than I imagined. My eyes met my team, and our faces couldn't be sterner.

This was going to be a nightmare.

Now that we were absolutely sure the General was alive again, precautions had to be arranged. Tactics had been contacted, as well as the Communication department.

Channels, codifications, all of it had been changed - because I knew the General would be surveying us. I knew him to the point of being completely sure he took care of his own safety.

Of course there were things that didn't make any sense.

Hence, the circumstances of his appearance and the woman involved in that. The woman… that was my greatest surprise and, I dared to say, my biggest riddle.

The General wasn't a 'woman' kind of man, not the get-marry- and-have-a-wife-and-a-house type. Hell, he wasn't a 'human' type in general. He was a man focused on his work, war and battle. Power and control. Nothing else.

So what was the role of a random woman like Sora Sukiru in his… ressurection? And not to mention the disappearance of her psycho husband, Dan Miller. Sadly I had the feeling Mr. Miller wouldn't be around to tell us about what had happened.

I chuckled, not believing the irony of all this.

"What is it, sir?" Rude's voice startled me.

"Ironic, isn't it?" I asked, my eyes on the board that we borrowed from Miller's house. My eyes rested on the shadow that lingered in the latest photographs the man had taken. Huge black circles were designed around Sephiroth's frame. Now that I knew that that shade was actually him, it didn't shock me anymore.

"The disappearance of Dan Miller led us to Sora Sukiru's place… and we end up finding out Sephiroth was there after all. And then, thanks to Mr. Miller's paranoia with registering every step of his obsession… he eventually gave us the exact location of where Sephiroth is."

Silence invaded the room.

"Considering the woman is still alive, which I doubt."

"Not to mention Dan Miller-"

Elena's voice was stern, but eventually Rude interrupted her with hope in his tone.

"Cloud is here."

We all breathed out in relief.

Having a former SOLDIER in our side would be an advantage. Namely, the one that had - supposedly - killed the General.

Cloud entered the premises without uttering a word, an unfriendly frown on his face. Despite not enjoying such mood, I understood him. After all, this wasn't easy to digest.

We went to the conference room where all the proof remained and in there, along with my team, I took my time explaining and confessing all I knew about the matter - since the day the Lieutenant went on search for me until hours ago.

Cloud remained silent the whole time, listening attentively. Elena, Rude and Reno watched, heard and made absolutely no comment. Re-living the whole 'Sephiroth's discovery process' was disturbing enough.

"How did this happen?"

Cloud's tone was a mix of despair and rage. Right. So he had to ask exactly the one question I didn't know how to answer.

"I have no idea, Cloud." I admitted, locking my stare with his. "Somehow… he was brought to life. He was found in that reactor, along with the remnants of Jenova's head."

The word Jenova made all my team shiver.

"I need to know what we're dealing with." Cloud declared, serious. "How do you know it's actually him, for sure? Apart from the Mako broadcasting, I know that, but… how do we know we're dealing with the Sephiroth of before?"

It was a very good question.

"We don't, Cloud." I admitted. "That's why we called you."

Cloud's silence felt accusing but I didn't care. We were talking honestly here and I wanted him to know of everything.

"If things get out of hand, we trust on you to take him out again."

Cloud rested against the chair, thinking about my words. I knew he was thinking of an excuse to bail on us. The whole issue with the General had marked him to a point of no return. So, it was only normal he would avoid any further contact.

"We believe it won't get to that." Rude declared, my eyes meeting his at once. "He's with a woman. That may actually work in our advantage."

"Unreal." Cloud whispered, arranging his hair with one of his hands, but to no avail. Spiky hair was difficult to dominate. "This is a freak show, really. Sephiroth being alive… living in the middle of nowhere with a hostage? It's…"

"I know, it's crazy." I admitted. "But we can't afford to send a tracker first to see what's going on. He'd find out, kill the tracker and disappear. If it wasn't for the standard Mako measuring in Sora Sukiru's apartment, we would never even suspect he'd still be alive."

"So he's not aware we know of him?" Cloud asked, his eyes now on the board. "Are you sure he is completely unaware of our mission to capture him?"

"There are no certainties as you well know, Cloud. There is the possibility he can know of us and our intentions, but the odds favor us. That's why I think we have to act at once."

"What are your intentions?"

Cloud's words surprised me, what made me narrow my eyes at him.

"Sephiroth is not dead, Cloud. And he's guilty of a series of crimes he committed, as you well know. He has to pay for what he did."

I paused, my team's eyes on me for the whole time.

"He will be brought to justice and he will be sentenced for his crimes."

Cloud took his time answering, what wasn't a good sign.

"Don't you agree?"

"I guess…"

"Are you with us?" I insisted, rising from my chair and looking the former SOLDIER in the eye. Enough of smooth talking. "I know you abandoned Shinra but we need you now. The Planet needs you. You're the only one that killed him, once."

Heavy silence invaded the room where we all stood in.

"So, how's it going to be, Cloud?"

I expect a silent leaving and a door closing, with no answer. But I what I got in return was way different.

"I'll do it on one condition."

My eyebrows rose at Cloud's words.

"Name it."

"I want to be reassigned to Shinra as General."

Well. I wasn't expecting that one. Through the corner of my eye I saw Rude's mouth agape and his stare meeting Reno's.

"As far as I know, the post hadn't been taken since Sephiroth's death."

I rested both my palms on the table, considering what I would say to the man in front of me.

"It hasn't." I admitted. "I'll talk to the President and see what I-"

"No, Tseng." Cloud declared, rising from the chair as well, obviously in confrontation mode. I caught a glimpse of Rude grasping the gun reflexively. "I want guarantees, or I will not be part of your mission. Do what it takes to put me back in the system, get me the post and then we'll have a deal."

Cloud's tone was offending and rude, but I had no chance but to solve things right there and now. With Sephiroth out there, concocting God knew what in that disturbed mind of his, I couldn't afford to worry over details right now. Even if Cloud's demand sounded ludicrous.

I needed Cloud with my men, because he had powers to solve things… if things got out of control.

So, considering all this, I grabbed the desk phone and spoke out loud and clear.

"Tseng speaking. Get me to the President, please, it is a matter of urgency."

Cloud's POV

I had been impolite and smug, but I didn't care.

Hell, I was putting my life on the line again for Sephiroht, the man who basically tried to kill me and almost achieved it. In fact, if it hadn't been for the whole Mako improvement I had in me, I wouldn't have survived to his deadly strike.

The pain of sharp, cold metal impaling me still gave me nightmares; cold sweating; screams and consuming pain to the point of bringing tears to my eyes.

Tifa had been my comfort through so many nights, where my chest seemed to burn, to explode - as if an invisible hand was there squeezing my heart and opening the wound his sword had given me.

I would never forget how his Masamune felt inside my body.

Tseng had taken care of the process easy and simple. In half an hour a contract had been printed, where my new post at Shinra was stated clearly.

One hell of a pay and lots of responsibilities - but I didn't care. I was willing to become a General - a good and respectful one.

For months I had complained to myself I had no reason to live.

So now I had one: the best of all goals and the place I so deserved after my courageous deeds.

I signed the contract, along with Tseng and his staff as witnesses.

Tseng took his time informing us of what would happen the next day: we were going hunting.

-/-

I slept at Shinra that night - in my new apartment.

I would have to transfer all my stuff from Tifa's place. Yeah, she would eye me proudly, I was willing to bet. I, Cloud Strife - The new General.

Only the thought of it made me smile.

During the whole day we prepared the mission - categorized as 'Top-secret'. No one knew about it, except the Turks' team and fifty men that had been informed of a 'serious threat' in the North. Tseng had gathered with them and disclosed the whole truth - so that they knew exactly what they were facing.

Some of them had fought under Sephiroth's command and I felt their discomfort as Tseng spoke. I stood there, in the back, guarding the exit in case some of them decided to leave.

Which was not an option. Once accepted in this mission, there was no turning back. The side had been taken.

Sephiroth was alone, in the middle of nowhere, and had no idea we were coming for him. I wondered how his smug face would look like once we'd surprise him.

I grasped my sword reflexively at the thought of him in his full splendor. A powerful man, driven to craziness once acquainted with his past.

My thought flew, considering our chances. It seemed we had it all covered.

-/-

I remained outside, covering the area as Tseng's men invaded the place. It was a nice house in the forest - but it all felt way off. I mean, I would never imagine Sephiroth would be the kind of having a place in the woods!?

Come on. It was too absurd to even consider that!

I scanned the area and I realized it was clear. There were no traps, nothing military going on. Whatever was happening here - war scenarios hadn't been thought of.

This area in the North was pretty quiet and still. Very well hidden and off the satellite imaging. Sephiroth had chosen the location wisely - as expected from a man like him.

I took my time tracking the surroundings before alerting Tseng the way was clear. Inside the house there was someone. Most likely, it was the woman that they had talked about - Sora Sukiru.

Well, at least she was alive. In the corner of my mind I wondered why she would she be here with Sephiroth, of all persons. I wondered what use would he gave to her, what would be his interest on her.

Yeah, right..., I thought, ironically. Sephiroth actually caring for someone?

That had to be the greatest joke of the century.

I surrounded the house several times, listening to Tseng talking to the woman. She was dead scared. And she clearly suffered from some paranoia as well, because she defended Sephiroth with every word.

I narrowed my eyes as I listened, but my focus changed all of the sudden.

I remained still and quiet, and felt my eyes shift. My insides changed, as they always did when he was around. When he ordered us - SOLDIER - around and sounded authoritative.

Before I knew it I was looking up - and saw him fly, headed from northwest, that dreadful Masamune on his left hand.

Shivers and cold sweating invaded me.

Knowing was one thing - seeing him alive and kicking was a total different matter.

I gulped dry at the vision, and my hand met the sword handle at once. I was prepared to battle, I felt prepared for everything… thing was, Sephiroth didn't pay me no importance.

After a few scanning flights, he stopped floating right above the roof. He narrowed his eyes and his wing created a ravenous turmoil around us.

The whole forest seemed to have been invaded by a hurricane. There were leaves, trunks, soil and wind all around us, moving and spinning chaotically. The men outside crouched, afraid and scared. Man. The effect this guy still had on them was impressive.

I took a glance at Sephiroth once more. He had a frown of despair and hopelessness on his face - which was something new for me. Those were emotions I didn't know he could perspire.

Then, in the blink of an eye he dived, destroying the roof and invading the space where Tseng and the woman were talking.

What followed rendered me speechless.

I rested silently by the kitchen door, watching the scene developing, listening to words I didn't imagine to hear, testifying reactions I wouldn't dare to dream Sephiroth would do… to safeguard a frail human being.

Tseng's strategies shifted once he realized the woman actually meant something for Sephiroth. I never thought to live to see the day Sephiroth would kneel for someone else's life.

Definitely, this wasn't the Sephiroth I knew.

This man, kneeled and holding a woman in his arms, whispering words of tenderness against her hear… was someone else.

A changed man.

He still managed to use magic on his own benefit. To avoid further complications I saw him use a sleep spell to put the woman asleep.

It was instantaneous. She closed her eyes, entangled in his arms like… a lover. His eyes scanned her sleepy face, and I wondered what he would be thinking.

Would he be saying goodbye? Would he be praying for her safety?

The scene was shocking for all of us. Shinra men, Turks and I remained wordless, for there were no words available to describe what we were seeing.

A man like Sephiroth asking for her safety; a man like Sephiroth protecting a frail woman with all his strength; a man like Sephiroth actually being tender and kind.

It was like a God damned nightmare that didn't end.

His eyes met mine, catching me offguard.

In that moment, I sensed it was actually him - the same man that tried to kill me in Neibelheim. Cruelty and satisfaction poured of him, and I realized he knew how miserable my life had been since his departure. The nightmares, the sadness, the depression my living was immersed in… he had left me with nothing. He had taken out one of my best friends - Zack Fair.

"Does it still hurt… Strife?"

Sephiroth's words hit me like a rock. Provocative as always, reminding me of the moment he had hurt me purposely to finish me off.

The wound, the scar I had of that very same attack pulsed as his eyes pierced mine. Sephiroth hurt me with his psyche, made me feel physical pain only with a deathly stare.

I turned away, not wanting to see more or hear more of him. I needed distance from that evil man.

Still a little shaken with Sephiroth's doings, I followed the team's actions.

The General left the house under tight surveillance, always with the woman on his arms. Tseng marched next to him, words exchanged occasionally.

The forest was silent as we abandoned the place where Sephiroth and the woman had been living for several months.

Now, it was completely destroyed, filled with murder and anger, sadness and grief.

I eyed the place one more time before getting inside the helicopter.

Something inside me warned me this wasn't the end. This place held a strange mystic that wasn't innocent or pure.

This place, this hidden house in the woods… were alive with something I couldn't understand.

A/N - Allrighty, one more before the plot goes to present tense one again. I hope you enjoyed these other perspectives; it's great to remember and re-write stuff from Dreamcatcher :) Review as you like, people and let me know what you're thinking! :) Your opinion is most valued, as ALWAYS :)

Next chapter things will take off from the end of Prologue. Enough of going back in time and checking on someone else's perspectives. The plot will be moving, from now on! And what I have prepared for you… beware :D

See you very soon!

*Check some of my original fiction on the web: fictionpress dot com. I write under my official penname Rita Dinis (write the name under 'writer' in the search tab). There's short-stories, novel chapters, and much more. Enjoy!*