Whew! Hope you enjoy chapter Twelve: Light or Death....

Zeros' eyes flashed, and he leapt off the ground, soaring over Zack's head and landing on behind him, whacking him with the EMR and sending a wave of electricity to course through Zack's

body. Simultaneously, the mock 'Rude' leapt forward, sending a bone crunching punch at Zack's chest. Elena opened fire, and Cissnei released her six-armed shuriken, sending it whizzing

towards Zack at breakneck speed. Zack crossed both hands in front of his chest, cushioning Rude's punch and flinching as he heard an internal crack, most likely one of his ribs. He leapt out

of the way as Rude aimed a kick in his direction, only to just miss the shuriken, the blade cutting his arm as it flew past and returned to Cissnei boomerang style. A bullet brushed his

cheek, leaving a deep gash where it had flown past.

He took a deep breath, letting his SOLDIER reflexes kick in.

Everything slowed...

Bullets flew past him, embedding themselves in the far wall, making loud clunking noises as they made impact. He moved fluently, missing another bullet by millimetres. He heard a light grunt as

Zeros aimed another swing at him, and leapt into the air, soaring above the man's head, landing just out of range of his attack. He knew he could only keep this up for another few seconds. He could

already feel his advanced reflexes waning, and time began to speed up again. He would have to finish them quickly. He swung his Buster Sword, a motion that seemed to take longer than it should

have, and felt the blade slam into someone's body. It was Cissnei, who flew into the far wall with a sickening crunch and collapsed, her now shattered shuriken falling from her limp fingers. From

behind him, he heard a startled shout, and pain flashed red across his eyes. He looked down just quick enough to see a bullet embed itself in his shoulder. One after another. Finally the last bullet in

the cartridge emptied, this one passing clean through and exiting the other side, bringing with it a spray of crimson. He turned towards Elena, whose eyes seemed frightened and uncertain. He knew

somewhere inside of her, the real person's soul resided, the person from which Hojo had taken this body. An innocent, like Cissnei, Rude and Zeros who did not deserve to die. Nonetheless, he raised

his sword. Nothing could be done for them now, as Hojo would forever control them. They were dirtied-- tainted from Hojo's experimentation, and had passed the void of no return. The Buster Sword

collided with the woman's form, and she lay still, black blood pouring from her fatal wound.

He felt a heavy weight on his back and fell, colliding with the ground—

Rude had latched his arms firmly around Zack's neck from behind. The advanced reflexes had vanished, and the world returned to normal speed. He gasped for air, coughing and

sputtering as the man choked him.

Zack dug his fingernails into the man's strong arms, pulling at them in attempt to release his fatal grip. Blackness tinged his vision, and the room spun. Zack planted his feet firmly

on the ground, grabbing Rude from behind and flipping the man over his head, then latching his own arms around Rude's throat as he gasped for air. Rude bucked as Zack strangled him,

trying to shake the man off. He fell to his knees, gasping, and just when Zack had through he'd won, Rude got up, launching himself at the wall at full speed. At the last moment, he turned in

attempt to slam Zack against the wall, but Zack had been ready for him, and launched himself at the wall before they made impact. Holding out his sword as he slammed into the concrete,

Rude impaled himself on the blade.

Albeit dazed, Zack managed to stand, leaning on the wall for support as blood ran rapidly from his wounds. Zeros was standing before him, watching him

intently.

"Your strength, Mr. Fair, is intimidating." He said in a fashion much like Hojo's. Zack smiled a little, finding it odd such words would come from a clone made to reflect Reno's character.

Yes, only Zack could still be able to smile after such an ordeal.

"But unfortunately, mine is superior to yours now." He said smoothly, walking towards Zack, his EMR drawn. Zack could now tell

the difference between the real Reno's Electro Mag Rod, and Zeros'. Reno's, was basically a plain nightstick with the ability to force an electric charge into the victim's body. Zeros', though

containing the same ability, was a lithe blade.

You see, unlike my companions, Hojo designed me to learn as I fought. Luckily, you are in no such position to be fighting, so I will kill you quickly. Zeros raised the EMR holding it above him

like a whip. A steady stream of blue electricity ejected out the end as he held it up in the air, and then with two hands, brought it to the ground.

Pain. Immense pain was all Zack felt as the charge wracked his body. It was like a stigma, coursing through his veins, like fire pulsing through every fibre of his body. He did not fight it. He

did not resist. He wanted to suffer, for all the pain Cloud had endured because of his carelessness. He wanted to feel all that Cloud had felt, and would feel should he not succeed. And then

all was silent, and all was dark. The pain subsided. His vision returned to him seconds later, bringing with it the face of Zeros, kneeling beside him, a wicked grin on his face, his crimson eyes

boring into Zack's like the burning venom of a thousand snakes. You are mine, Zack Fair.

There was a thick squelching noise, and Zeros let out a startled grunt.

The light died from his eyes, the burning anger, like a watered flame, dying with it.

His eyes returned to those of the man trapped inside him; now dead.

Zack looked up to see the crimson tip of a silver blade protruding from Zeros' chest. He looked up to see his savoir, but only bright light met his eyes, and

an overwhelming dizziness consumed him. The Lifestream? Nah. This wasn't his time to die- he didn't think so anyways. Nonetheless, he was thankful for the warmth the light gave him... It

was so nice, so comforting... Aw shit! Maybe this is the Lifestream. No way in hell is it taking me now, what'll happen to Cloud? He ignored the warmth, as hard as it was, and ran back towards

consciousness- well, not exactly ran but he headed back that way anyways. Wait a minute- what if that light was consciousness... He debated this in his head for awhile. What the hell? Now

I'm confused. He stood between both. The light, and the path he thought was consciousness. Hmm. I know Cloud was telling me about this... He thought for awhile, letting himself be drenched in

the oceans of his memories...

Zack sat beside Cloud's bed in the hospital ward, debating with him about whether Rude would look good with a toupee...

What the hell? That's not it... There we go...

Zack rose from his slumber. He stretched, yawning and rubbing his sore neck. His years in SOLDIER had made him a light sleeper, being alert at all times. He watched Cloud's heart monitor from the

chair, watching as the spiked lines elevated. The boy's breathing quickened, and his eyes fluttered open as he returned to consciousness. "Z-Zack?" Zack straightened, wondering if he should call a

nurse. "Hey Spike, how you feeling?" Cloud's eyes wandered around the room. "Where-"

"Hospital. You were shot. Just missed your heart, you're really lucky you know that?"

Zack smiled, leaning over to ruffle Cloud's mess of blonde spikes.

"Hey Zack."

"Yeah?"

"Do you- believe in the Lifestream?"

Zack put his hands behind his head, leaning back in the armchair. "Yeah, everyone knows it's real. Shinra siphons energy from it, don't they?"

Cloud kept his eyes locked to the ceiling. "But- I mean, do you believe in- a sort of- afterlife when you die?"

Zack let a touch of a smile brush his lips. "Sure."

"I think- I saw it."

"The Lifestream?"

"Mm."

"But wouldn't that mean-- you were about to die."

Cloud shifted. "I had a choice. To return to consciousness, of to join the Lifestream. On one side, was darkness, and the other, light. I picked the darkness- Life itself... And I guess- it worked." He

said, a little sheepishly.

Zack smiled, "Wow, all that happened in this room, and I was asleep for it?"

Zack pulled out of the memory, knowing then, he had a choice.

The same choice that Cloud had been faced with—that of life, or death.

He took a deep breath, and let himself be taken.

Any who, thankyou to all my faithful reviewers, as always. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter,

Thanks for reading,

Lucifer