Always On The Move

The only sound that could be heard was that of a creepy jangling. Vincent stalked slowly across the rough ground of the car park in upper Junon. Cloud had been specific about what to expect.

The sky had darkened just before Vincent's arrival, leaving the car park looking emptier that it was. Strange twilight covered the place as he approached Clouds bike.

Only three vehicles could be seen, Clouds bike, a broken down beat up truck and a dimmed car Vincent was sure contained SOLDIER.

Vincent closed his eyes in relief, facing him in the polished chasse of the bike was a reflection of himself, a strange reminder of some distant humanity. A reminder of a person he has long thought dead.

Black leather cracked as he ran his hand slowly along the curve of the bike. Thin silver streaks covered the black steel, battle scars from every skid slam and scrape Cloud had ever survived in the passed three and a half years.

"Yet still he lives" Vincent thought out loud. He could not and would not deny it, Cloud Strife should be dead by now, but somehow he always prevailed.

Vincent tossed his cloak back to one side and removed a key from his belt. With one hand on the bike he flipped himself nimbly up in the air and onto the bike. After igniting the engine he reached under his deep red cloak and drew his weapon.

"Maybe another time," The ex Turk muttered. With careful precision he fired two shots, one into both tires on the right side of the vehicle. Going no where but in circles, he thought to himself.

With a casual wave Vincent sped off on the bike, easily sending it through long curves out the car park and along the street. The next time those SOLDIER saw him they might very well be facing the barrel of his gun themselves. That's irony, he thought to himself.

- - - - - -

It seemed that no one in the Shin-Ra security could look Cloud in the eye as he made his exit from the facility. Feeling glad to be out of there, he stared back at its wire fences and grey stone walls.

The blonde placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and gazed towards the forests to the east. He'd have to go through them, perhaps even spend a night there before reaching the other end of the island, or he could just run there in one go, and sleep on the journey home.

Darkness had crept over the island just before he had gotten off the boat; it had taken about half an hour by truck to the facility. A few hours yet before midnight. If he could make it half way across the forest by then he'd sleep.

His mind made up Cloud settled into a jog. A rather fast paced jog by most standards, but still a jog none the less. If only he could find himself a chocobo.

The land under his feet gradually changed shade the further he jogged away from the facility. In all its technological might, the amount of pure Mako under it had prevented it from totally ruining the surrounding land healthy.

The gentle slopes up and down were easy to take at a decent pace, Clouds foot seemed to land on the exact part of a rock out crop that would send him over any deeper drops so he could continue his run as normal.

Deep green leaves were a true sign of this lands health, the trunks of the trees Cloud made towards were thick and sturdy. Mideel islands forests were thick in general, vastly populated with animals as well as plants. This could be an interesting night.

­- - - - -

"What do you mean you're FULL?" Cid Highwind was in his element. This man was born to shout. Not only was he louder than everyone else, he had an unnerving ability to emphasize a single word, and make it sound like a death threat.

"I can see the bloody rooms!" Cid waved his hand towards the hall full of doors. "Do you know who I am!" With Venus Gospel safely locked in the Highwind at the very edge of the town, the clerk had no idea just how lucky he was to be breathing.

"Yes, we know exactly who you are." A short stubby nose sat firmly in a rather ugly face. By no means a small man, the clerk squared his impressive shoulders in a defensive boast, "Mideel, is ALWAYS full to Shin-Ra! We have seen your airship."

Snap.

Somewhere between uttering the words and then thinking about them, the clerk was interrupted by a pile of Cid. The pilot flew over the desk and grabbed the man, pinning him against the wall.

"You calling me Shin-Ra, boy?" Smoke piped into the air from Cid's cigar. "You are right about one thing, it was my bloody airship in the first place! The one outside? Parked on your cozy little lawn? Three guesses as to who's that is as well, you little shit!"

All colour washed from the clerks face as Cid held his grip at the man's shirt. With his right hand Cid puffed a long draw from his Cigar and then glared back at the man.

"Long you lived on this island, boy?" The aging pilot seemed to find some restraint after all. He gave the clerk a suggestive nod, to remind him that he wanted an answer, and then stepped back blowing out smoke.

"About five or six years" A voice stammered from behind him.

Over his shoulder the pilot could see a short frail looking woman. Her short black hair was choppy, deliberately style less.

Cid smirked victoriously to himself and removed the cigar from his mouth.

"What's your name, son?" Cid almost let the clerk answer, then continued anyway, "forget that, doesn't matter what your name is. If lil miss fragile over there's telling' me the truth, then I assume you were here bout three years ago. Y'know? When that big ass weapon started tearin it up round here."

The clerk nodded, but didn't speak. He just continued to glare at the pilot.

"Who's ass was it stood right between that monstrous beast and your pretty little town? Right up to the moment it became the worlds largest Mako reserve?" Once more Cid gave the clerk time to respond, as he stood taking an extra long draw on his cigar.

The, by now, thoroughly intimidated clerk opened his mouth to speak.

"Shut up, son! 'Course it wasn't your ass on the line," Cid interrupted again, with more satisfaction this time than last. "It was mine. Mine and my fine friends ass' on the line. You might remember seeing that big 'ol airship around about that time as well then? If your memory isn't as defective as your manners you'll see sense and realise the only reason you are alive to rebuild this damn place was become we had the mind to lend a hand."

Cid looked to the woman who spoke before, with a look of exhasperation on his face he sighed, "Shin-Ra, my ass."

- - - - -

It was difficult not to smile in a situation like the one Cloud was in now. This place was so full of life, it emanated a comforting feel. Like entering a room full of people who love you. You can feel it.

A wave of thoughts crashed against him. All at once he was back in Seventh Heaven and on the beach near Cosmo Canyon. Voices were laughing and singing. He knew them well. Every orphan he ever helped had a quiet yet permanent place in his heart.

Warm energy seemed to pulse from the ground. Almost as if the forest was a slow flowing river in every possible direction. Back against the trunk of a tree, Cloud wondered if it was just people sensitive to Mako who experienced this, or maybe just him.

Sunrise was only about five hours away, the forest wasn't that cold, and it was going to be an easy night. Focusing on getting some rest Cloud tried to follow the pulses in the trees. Settling his breathing he tried to match them the best he could.

Sleep took him, and he gave himself to dreams. The alarmingly loud sound of what seemed to be a Shin-Ra Minicopter startled Cloud awake. Instinctively he reached for his weapon in a drowsy turn.

Anticipating this move the copter fired it's primary weapon, a miniature gatling un a the weapon.

"Damn" Cloud pulled back just in time to watch a hail of bullets bounce off his blade, one bullet fragmented, ricocheted and slashed across his left arm. Cloud hopped to his feet still squinting in pain, "Can nothing be easy" he muttered and rolled to the right, out of the copters search beam.

As fast as his legs could carry him he sped straight at the little attack droid, each time it's search beam pulled focus on him, seemed to be every five or so steps, he stepped to the outside and flipped both vertically and horizontally over his centre of gravity, like doing a horizontal pirouette over a high jump bar.

The tiny crafts attack parameters took full seconds to readjust to such a complex move, and after three such manoeuvres Cloud was close enough for one last trick.

Just as the beam focused on him for the last time Cloud launched himself in the same fashion as before only this time at the apex of his arc his right leg out to the side and let it's own momentum bring it arcing violently into the side of the copters bulked out conical body.

Unfortunately for Cloud it rather abruptly slowed his turning and he smacked back to earth with an awkward thud.

Before he had time to stand or even focus his eyes, he lost all breath.

Something had hit him, hard. Recoiling in pain he attempted to push himself to his feet. This was needless, before he had time to lift fully something connected with his chest. Now he was traveling upwards faster than hoped. With a grunt he collided back first with a tree.

The blond shook his head in the hope it was steady his vision. It was then that the figure became visible in the darkness, a deeper shadow against a wall of black. Things became clearer as Clouds eyes adjusted and took in more light; he could distinguish individual trees in the distance again.

Grunting he flopped forward onto one knee and raised his head to his attacker. A sudden smack of realization dawned on him. "That's a Shin-Ra…" Cloud cut his revelation short choosing instead to duck lower onto his knee to avoid a rapid kick.

Instantly he hopped from his crouch and raised his right knee catching the assailant square in the gut. Keeping his left foot still Cloud twisted to his outside again and quickly brought his right leg round in front of him to keep balance.

Before his attacker could recover Strife was off like a bullet, racing straight at his holster where his weapon, and he had a feeling more importantly, the package was.

Having decided that he wasn't giving this creep any more of a chance he dived at the weapon, hugged it to his body and rolled behind a large tree. He had just enough time to stand up and buckle the weapon in place before the ground exploded to his left, sending him flying off in the opposite direction, narrowly missing the earth spikes and skidding to a stop against another tree.

Cloud made it to his feet to see his attacker rushing at him screaming with rage, the black haired assailant took a back handed swing, his clawed glove narrowly missing. Cloud twisted and tripped him with his left leg, continuing the twist he grabbed him at the base of his neck and slammed him against the tree trunk. The man let out a gasp as his neck gave a skin crawling squish against the trunk.

Cloud flipped him round and pushed him hard against the trunk again.

"Who the hell are you!" Cloud barked and tightened his grip to a white knuckle grasp of the top. To Clouds total amazement the man smirked. With visible contempt he looked Cloud up and down – who had the uneasy feeling of being judged by his own ghost.

"SOLDIER 1st and 2nd Class were disbanded! Why are you wearing that uniform?" No answer came, only a smirk. Enraged cloud spun and tossed the man across the forest floor. He felt stung. Had Shin-Ra reinstated the SOLDIER? More importantly, had Reno failed to tell him?

A cough escaped his assailant's mouth as he fought to his feet and turned about. There he stood laughing over at an increasingly unstable Cloud.

"Your package is ours, Dog. Shin-Ra is not welcome here" he sneered. Cloud noted the man's glance and followed it back to were he had kicked the droid into a tree. Cloud smiled in spite of himself.

"Not as smart as it likes to think it is," he said setting his eyes back on his attacker, "You wear the SOLDIER uniform, use Shin-Ra techs, and you call me a dog?" Cloud laughed.

"It is a formidable weapon, I give them that." A step closer brought the man to the edge of Clouds reach. So he's not an idiot, he thought. "The uniform is a reminder, of the SOLDIER that left Shin-Ra, the SOLDIER that in the end, tackled Sephiroth himself." the man finished.

Cloud suddenly realised what was happening. Blizzard. Reno mentioned them just before they parted. This must be one of their men. Cloud cringed.

"So you're from Blizzard?" the other man looked surprised. "Funny, I always thought that if your going to start a fan club, you should have the right information. Cloud was never a 1st or even 2nd class SOLDIER." Cloud laughed in spite of himself. "Was all in his head."

Mako eyes flicked to the west and back to the man skirting around him. Brown eyes followed his slight movements and watched for signs of retaliation. Filled with what seemed like amusement the dark haired figure straightened and spoke.

"I don't care who you are, but I can't let you talk like that. Your precious package will never make it back into Shin-Ra hands," Black hair bounced as he nodded towards the distant Shin-Ra building, "seeing as you work for them. You're our enemy"

"Actually, I work for the money." with that Cloud launched himself forward swinging his arm forward drawing Styx from his waste in a swinging stab. The blow missed by inches thanks to his opponents side spin, but he was now more in the open than the other, more room to move.

Before he could turn round there was a click then a wizz and a small portion of the tree ahead of him exploded in a shower of bark.

Cloud dropped just as the second shell flew past him and showered him with bark as he rolled across the ground. In one smooth motion he brought the weapon up from slightly behind him and deflected the next shell.

Catching the hilt with his free hand he continued the swing in a two handed swing cutting across the air in front of him.

The blade tip drew a shimmering blue arc in the air which spun as it hurtled towards the other man. Once more the man spun narrowly avoiding the attack, but not wholly quickly enough. A short grunt escaped his lips as he looked down at his singed arm, the skin a smouldering red.

The blade beam collided with a thick oak bark and exploded sending dirt and bark everywhere. Both men where caught off guard when something darted from the trees to their side. The creature moved fast in a straight line between them, startled by the explosion, it had almost disappeared again when a click spilt the air and the beast toppled to the ground.

"The name's Isaac" Cloud watched as the blade rifle was levelled at him and Isaac grinned, "You have one chance to flee, hand over the package or I will be forced to end your sorry life."

"I must be getting old," Cloud said just loud enough for Isaac to hear. His blond spikes flopped slightly as he lowered his head. "I think I'm going deaf" bright eyes looked over at Isaac as Clouds head shot back up with a smile, "'cause that sounded like you actually believed it."

Isaac was still thoroughly shocked when cloud slid to the side and dashed at him. With barely enough time to retrain his rifle Cloud easily crossed the gap and knocked the weapon clean from Isaac's hand. He then brought his elbow back and slammed it into the man's temple.

Still stumbling back Isaac closed his fist and it flared blue for an instant. He then tossed his hand wildly forward and let loose a flash of ice. The cast was too fast for Cloud to avoid, it hit him square in the chest winding him and knocking him to the ground. Isaac launhced himself in the air with a silver flash by his side, after a flip he came falling back towards clouds body with a blade in hand and pointing directly down.

Cloud rolled to his side, leaving his blade where it lay, he spun his body round and kicked Isaac's newly grounded blade clean out of the dirt, as well as its wielders grip. Again on a level playing field Cloud leaped forward and kicked out in vain as his opponent was quicker off the mark.

The SOLDIER clad man rolled backward retrieving Clouds blade and brought it across his body in a surprisingly fast move. Clouds follow up attack had to be cut short in favor of a ducking roll to avoid his own blade.

Isaac went into full flow with an advance of slashes and spins that left cloud no room for error, each side slip and body shift had to be right, or it was over for him, dropped by his own blade. Through the culmination of a slippery roots, over confidence and underestimation Isaac over stretched himself in one attack and left Cloud the space to slip up close.

The blonde spun bodily off Isaac and elbowed the base of his own blade, just above the hilt. At the end of his spin-off the flip blade he had just triggered to release came spinning through the air in graceful arc and landed in clouds outstretched hand.

Before Isaac could recover properly Cloud was advancing, the purple clad man spun and brought styx round heavily, but Cloud had the flip blade between him and Isaac before the blade could reach a decent speed. Using his momentum he lodged his foot between Isaacs knees and toppled them both, disarming him at the same time.

"It's over, don't make me do this." Cloud grunted, he turned his head to the side to breathe and pressed his shoulder and hands down harder against the struggling man under him. Isaac laughed momentarily but the mirth soon faded and flowed in to coughing. Something was wrong.

Cloud raised himself up a little and held the other mans gaze. Isaac had landed on the creature he shot. His brown eyes had become almost black. Shifting his weight Cloud twisted and pulled Isaac up into a sitting position. It was the grimace that gave it away.

Isaac and Cloud had toppled onto the corpse of the beast that the former had so mercilessly shot. The impact and pressure had forced a bone shard from the dead animal through its own hide and into the back of the SOLDIER look-a-like.

Blankly the two brown-black eyes looked back it him.

"No," cloud said steadily "This was not meant to happen" Clouds head shot back and forth around the forest as if looking for some kind of answer, "dammit you attacked me! I was sleeping, Why fight me?" red ribbon falling gracefully through the air... "You coulda took it and ran. I didn't mean for this. I'm sorry, but this was your own fault."

Everything seemed so still then. None of the nocturnal beasts could be heard, the air was still and warm. The only sound to be heard was of Isaac's body being lain aside, limp but still alive. "Are their more of you coming for me? You've nothing left to fight for, but that package doesn't belong to you. I have a job to do." Might just be the last, Cloud thought.

The young warrior strained and raised his head slightly, then gave up and let it fall back down, "Nor you" he coughed. His left hand went to his bracer. A high frequency buzz gave way to painfully familiar glaring whine.

Cloud moved fast and examined Isaac's bracer. Materia! Shimmering in the darkness the green ball of Mako shone through the skin and formed a hoop of energy around the wrist.

Cloud grunted and got to his feet. Without a second thought about his sword Cloud turned and made a run for it. The whine of Ultima had made its inevitable climb back up in bitch. Suddenly everything seemed green and the air it's self became oppressive. The world was pressing down on his head from all directions and his vision became clouded and hazed. It was then it dawned on Cloud…he wasn't going to clear the attack radius. Before he could utter a word of disappointment the world cracked, smashed and gave way. All went white.

A/N: I realise this chapter is longer than the other so far, but it had to be for the fight to have the right kind of feel. It's an over all connection chapter, from here on in, things will take turns and hopefully get more exciting.