The two were getting pretty close to Healing when Cloud got two messages.

Hey, it's me, Barret! I did it! A new oil field! OIL FIELD! A huge one too! And we're sticking to plan, so soon I'll be able to come and visit Marlene! Tell her for me! See ya!

Reno called again. He says to hurry but he sounded kind of strange…Be careful, ok?

After the second message, Elly glanced to Cloud. She almost forgot about the others. She got so accustomed to being alone that she was afraid to meet them.

"Something's happening" She mumbled loud enough for him to hear. He didn't even look at her but still nodded. There was always something fishy about Reno. It usually meant Shinra wanted something and that was bad news.

When they arrived at the resort, there was just silence. Cloud was awaited, that was for sure. They got off their motorbikes and Elly let Cloud walk in first.

Cloud grabbed his katana out of safety issues with Reno. Elly didn't even move a muscle. When he opened the door, Reno launched at him. It looked childish. Reno was childish. She was still unsure of his mental state. He was the youngest turk and his skills were impressive. However, his personality still needed some work.

The red haired man tried another shot but Cloud walked right past him and closed the door into his face. Automatically, he closed the door into Elly's face too. Her eye started to twitch.

"Yo!" When the door didn't open, Elly placed her hand on Reno's arm. He looked shocked. He didn't see her there. "Eloise..." In one moment, Reno was thrown back on his ass while Elly entered the room.

Inside, she narrowed her eyes at Cloud. He looked passive. In front of them stood Rude. A black man who was twice Elly's body and height. He didn't have enough time to grab his electric rod. Cloud was a pretty fast fighter.

"Just as I expected from an ex-SOLDIER." A man in wheelchair trailed in slowly. He had most of his body covered by a blanket. "You haven't rusted a bit" The comment was addressed towards Cloud. When he saw the other fighter in the room, he smirked. "Eloise..."

Everyone had the same reaction. She didn't die and they knew it. She just isolated herself. They were making too much of a fuss over that.

"Is that you, Rufus? You've got no luck either" Being near Rufus Shinra was the beginning of a sad life. Both Eloise and Cloud knew that from experience. His father polluted the world and she was pretty sure Rufus wasn't going to be any different.

"The day of the explosion" Rufus started.

"What do you want?" Cloud asked impatiently. Still the man continued. "Just before the buildings started crumble"

"Who were the people who attacked me?" At that point, she glanced over to Cloud. She wasn't the only one who was attacked.

"Say something" Cloud pestered Rufus but still nothing. "I'm leaving"

"…lend us your powers" He wasn't referring only at Cloud and Eloise could feel that. His eyes trailed to her but she didn't move.

"Not interested" His response was clear. He had another chance though. Rufus turned his attention on Elly.

"Is that your answer, as well?" She just stared down at him.

"We at Shinra have a big debt to repay to the world. The responsibility of putting the world in its current, pathetic state...There's no helping people saying that it falls to us. Consequently, we must somehow repay this debt of ours." He wanted the help badly. He was even asking people who got through some traumatizing experiences.

"Let me in!" Reno was still outside.

"It's been two years, now that the world is on the speed again, what's the threat now? Well, that one's easy, Geostigma. And we have to think Sephiroth is the one responsible. The people blame mako energy, mako reactors, even the Life stream for causing the stigma. However, isn't it wrong to put the blame on it? The Life stream existed as long as the planet and even mako energy has been part of our life for 40 years. And yet, there's no mention about stigma in recorded history. So what happen during our time to change all that? I can only think about one thing. Sephiroth's awaken.

"Sephiroth's dead." Cloud added.

"Of course, but what about his mind. What if somehow he dissolve into the Life stream coursing with the planet diffuseness. I know, it's merely my speculation. But, there are possibilities right? And we can't cure the stigma until we know the truth. So we took the first step and went to look for traces of Sephiroth. Do you by any chance, still remember where is it?"

"The Northern Crater!" Reno responded enthusiastically.

"What do you think was there?" They waited. "Nothing. There was nothing. You don't have to worry about it. But something unexpected happened. Someone tried to get in our way. Those people who attacked you…They're Kadaj's gang."

"Kadaj…" Cloud bent his head.

"It seems that they mean to interfere with our plans." He stopped for a moment."Really…I can't figure why" That was an underestimation.

"Why did they attack me?" That was a question worth answering. They targeted Elly and Cloud. No one knew what was going to happen and what they wanted.

"You're with us, right?" They heard Reno from behind the door. Cloud hit it.

"Kadaj's gang is young and brutal. They're extremely dangerous. So we decide to try and hire a skilled bodyguard." She stared at Shinra. He was avoiding every important question.

"I'm a delivery man" Cloud bent his head and didn't dare look at Elly. They had similar experiences because they both met the same danger: Sephiroth. But somehow, their future just got tangled up.

"Is that what you think Elly? I know you have been aimlessly traveling around. Don't you want to return?" She didn't expect him to beg for her help too. She sighed and rubbed her forehead.

"My life has nothing to do with you or your company. I believe you already had done enough" She had enough. Before she could hear Cloud's response, she opened the door and walked out. On the way, though, Reno grabbed her arm.

"Are you going to help us rebuild the world?" She scoffed and glared at him. Reno looked impassive. He wasn't scared of her. She shook his arm off and went back to her motorbike.

She waited a few minutes until Cloud got out. He looked annoyed.

"Is that all that we are?" He looked curiously at her. "SOLDIERS"

"Where are you going now?" He ignored her completely. She sighed and started the engine.

"I don't know"

"Come back with me. Tifa would be happy to see you." She didn't know what to say.

"Stop thinking so much. Just, come." She looked down to her hands and sighed.

"I guess it won't hurt"