AN: I am so sorry for the late update of this story. My computer decided to try and die on me for awhile. I finally managed to fix it though, which makes me so happy! You have no idea. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the new chapter of Beyond the Sands of Time!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Final Fantasy 7 characters from either the games, the short anime, or the movie. I do, however, proudly own Silvia and Shadow and all ideas pretaining to them except for anything pretaining directly to Deepground.

Beyond The Sands of Time

Chapter 9: Silent Stalker

Genesis was not one to stalk someone. After all, he was usually swamped by his own fan club and they tended to stalk Genesis and his fellow 1st's. But, he was tired of Sephiroth's slow investigation. He knew Sephiroth wouldn't get any answers about the girl if he conducted his investigation by the book. So, Genesis Rhapsodos decided to take things into his own hands.

He waited patiently by the entrance of the Shinra building. Well, as patiently as he was able. He knew that that his target lived in outside the building. Where she lived, he did not know. But, he would find out why the girl was a Turk.

Angeal had told him, when he had explained his plan to his childhood friend, that he was going a little too far. Genesis snorted. He would figure out why the girl seemed to have been exposed to mako.

His thought came to a stop when she entered through the doors and started to make her way toward the elevator. A jet black wolf trotted at her side. Apparently the wolf went wherever the girl went.

Genesis stayed in his shadowed hiding place and watched the two enter the elevator. As soon as the doors closed, Genesis sped to the stairs and used his SOLDIER speed to keep up with the elevator as it ascended up the floors. He watched as the elevator stopped on the Turk floor.

The red commander decided to wait in the stair well for her. He listened intently to her soft almost quiet tread of her boots. He could easily hear her enter the Turk's office.

The girl stayed in the office for a long time. Well, long enough for Genesis's impatience. With a scowl, he pulled out a copy of LOVELESS from the inner pocket of his duster and began to read.

About a half hour later, the girl exited the Turk's office. She carried a piece of paper in her hands. A small smile curved the corners of her lips.

"Finally, Shadow! I thought we would never get a mission!" The girl, Silvia, said. Genesis moved quickly down the stairs to stay out of her line of sight.

"It is only to take care of some monsters located near a reactor in one of the sectors in the city." Genesis heard a rough voice answer the girl. Genesis wondered who had answered Silvia. There was no one around at the moment. His enhanced hearing could pick up movement from other areas of the Turk floor but none that were close to her. So, who had spoken to Silvia? It was another mystery to add to the ones already piled up about the girl.

Silvia made here way to elevator and down to the first floor. Genesis followed down the stairwell once again.

But just as Silvia exited the elevator and started to make her way toward the exit the sound of running footsteps echoed around the room and a happy, "Silvia!" was shouted. Silvia had just enough time to dodge to the side as an over-excited Zack flew at her. However, Angeal's puppy tried to stop too quick and face planted into the floor a few feet in front of Silvia.

Silvia covered her mouth to stop a laugh from emerging. Genesis watched as "the puppy" picked himself up off the floor and slowly turned to face the girl and her wolf. The wolf, Genesis noted, took one look at Zack's face and quickly left Silvia's side and raced outside. Shadow sat outside the doors watching the two still inside the building. When she saw Zack's face, Genesis swore the girl did a double take before slowly backing away and attempting to edge around him. It would appear Zack was using his infamous 'puppy eyes' and Silvia had no idea what to do when faced with it. But, as soon as Silvia backed slowly near the doors, Zack smiled and proceeded to get up off the floor and run toward her again.

"Silvia! I want to be your friend!" Zack proclaimed chasing Silvia who ran outside with Shadow following after her. The whole scene was very amusing to Genesis. He chuckled and made his way across the floor and outside the building.

About fifty feet from the entrance, Silvia stood on one side of the path with Shadow while Zack stood on the other side, facing her. Using his SOLDIER speed, Genesis hid behind a building close to their position.

Silvia looked a little exasperated. "Zack, I told you. There is NO Zack Fan Club."

"But, but, but Tseng said you made one." Zack exclaimed.

"I didn't make a fan club! Why does everyone keep bring it up!" The girl shouted. The wolf, next to her, start to shake slightly. Genesis would swear later when he looked back at this conversation, that he could hear a purring growl coming from the wolf and it sounded suspiciously like a laugh or chuckle.

Zack grinned happily. "Anyway, I want to be your friend!"

"…Why?" The girl asked suspiciously.

"Because, I want to. You seem like a nice person!"

Silvia eyed Zack wearily. "Okay…Well, I have to go on a mission now, Zack."

Genesis shook his head at the conversation he was listening to. Trust the puppy to just come out and try to be her friend. Zack the puppy was always trying to make friends. Where Genesis flourished in the higher society crowds, the young Zack flourished around ever person.

"I'll come with you!" Zack announced happily.

Silvia just sighed at the young SOLDIER and started to walk off again with Shadow keeping pace beside her. Zack followed behind her, with an obvious hop to his step. Genesis flitted from behind anything he could find to keep his presence hidden. He wasn't sure how good Silvia was able to detect others if she had Mako enhancements and Zack was already a SOLDIER 3rd. He didn't want to be caught spying on the girl.

XxXxXxXxX

Silvia, Shadow and their tag along Zack made their way to the reactor in sector 4. But something kept nagging at Silvia. She kept getting a feeling someone was watching her, but she couldn't figure out by what or who. The sensation hadn't even shown itself until she had entered the building. Now, it followed her everywhere. Well, that wasn't completely true. She hadn't felt it in the Turk office.

"Is something on your mind, child?" Shadow asked quietly beside her.

She was thankful her friend had decided to hide the fact he could speak from those they nothing about. Silvia knew Zack was a good guy. He oozed kindness. But Silvia herself did not know him all that well.

Silvia eyed her friend walking by her side. "I just get the feeling we are being watched."

Shadow huffed but didn't try and argue the fact. From years of experience, she knew he had felt the strange sensation as well.

XxXxXxXxX

Genesis eyed the group as they moved through sector 4 and headed toward the reactor. It wasn't long before he noticed that the group was being tailed by monsters. Silvia, Zack and Shadow seemed to have realized it as well. He watched from his hiding place on a roof of a near by building as the trio moved into a tight circle, facing out at the monsters that slithered toward them.

The puppy was the first to attack. Zack jumped forward, pulling his sword from his back and attacked two of the monsters. Silvia and Shadow both jumped into the fray not even a second later. The red haired 1st noticed something silver appear in the girl's hands before both were thrown in front of her. Both daggers hit their marks killing two of the monsters. Two more daggers appeared in her hands in seconds when she reached into her coat and behind her back, emerging with two more.

The wolf, Genesis noticed watched both Silvia and Zack's backs as they fought. If a monster tried to come up behind either of the two a flash of black was the only thing he saw before the wolf attacked the monster. Genesis also noticed the efficiency the girl and wolf used when killing the monsters. Both moved to take any openings the monsters unknowingly left for them. Their kills were also always aimed at vital points to cause as much harm as they could with one strike.

The trio fought their way through the sector, destroying any monsters they found. Genesis noticed the monsters were just low level monsters. Most were taken out with one or two blows.

It took about two hours for them to clear out the area. All three checked every building and warehouse to make sure all the monsters were dealt with. Once done, Silvia, Shadow and Zack sat on a bench near by.

"Wow, Silvia! You were awesome!" Zack grinned.

Silvia laughed softly at that. "Thank you Zack. You didn't do that bad yourself. I guess that is a SOLDIER for you."

Genesis watched the young woman pull her legs up on the bench and sit with her legs crossed over one another. He saw the amusement on her face when Zack stood up and proudly puffed out his chest.

"My dream is to be a hero!" He exclaimed, using a clenched fist to hit himself in the chest.

Jumping off the roof he was on, Genesis moved closer to the trio to hear better. He could tell, by her expression that she was thinking about something. Her faithful wolf jumped on to the bench next to her. Running a hand through his thick, black fur he saw Silvia open her mouth to speak.

XxXxXxXxX

Silvia thought carefully about what she wanted to tell Zack. The young SOLDIER 3rd wanted to be a hero. It surprised her when he proudly stated his one true wish. She knew what wishes meant to someone. She had one of her one, and it was one she was determined to make reality.

"Zack? May I ask a question?" When Zack just turned and nodded happily, Silvia asked." What makes someone a hero Zack?"

The black, spiky haired, teen just looked at her in puzzlement. He opened his mouth a few times but quickly closed it again. She could tell Zack didn't know what to say. Silvia grinned and stood. She stretched a bit before starting to walk back to the Shinra building. Shadow quietly slinked of the bench and followed. Zack, too lost in his thoughts didn't realize she had started to head back till he turned around to ask her something only to face an empty bench. With a yelp, 'the puppy' turned and started to run after the girl and her wolf.

XxXxXxXxX

Genesis followed the trio from the shadows. It was now five in the afternoon as the group made their way back to the Shinra building. He watched as Zack parted company with Silvia and Shadow exclaiming she would see him soon. It made Genesis feel so sorry for the girl. Not only had she gotten Zack as a friend, but he was now promising to come and find her in the near future. Angeal was about the only person Genesis knew of that could stand the over excited boy.

Silvia and Shadow continued on their way back to the Turk floor. Genesis stealthily followed via the staircase once again. It was around six when she exited the Turk office. Without delay, Silvia made her way up to the sixty-fifth floor. The red commander knew this floor was dedicated to the Urban Development department.

She walked down the hallways as though she walked the hallways often. He followed, wanting to know what she was doing on this floor. Genesis made sure to keep quite a distance between him and her.

He was surprised to learn the girl knew Reeve. The man opened the door when she knocked and welcomed her warmly. Reeve was usually a solitary man, and hardly let anyone come close to him. But the girl talked with Reeve like an old friend. They talked for a time before she handed over a file she was carrying to him.

The director of Urban Development accepted the package before saying good night to her.

Again, Silvia made her way to the bottom floor. He waited in the stairwell when he saw a feral grin spread across the girl's face. Not a soul was in sight except the receptionist that always guarded the entrance of the building. Genesis watched as the girl made her way across the floor quietly but quickly. Shadow followed as well all but slithering behind. The receptionist didn't even hear or take notice of Silvia's presence.

Curious, Genesis watched as the girl and wolf darted behind the receptionist and into a room situated behind her. Few moments latter a soft glow emanated from the open doorway.

Genesis watched, peering around the corner. The receptionist noticed the light reflected from the windows and turned around. Her brows furrowed in confusion. A few seconds later, the receptionists got up from her chair and made her way toward the room. She peered in cautiously before entering the room. A few seconds later, Silvia and Shadow exited the room and quietly closed the door. Genesis watched as she calmly typed in a code in to the door lock and a soft metallic 'clink' was heard by his enhanced hearing.

He heard two distinct sounds of laughter as the blue-gray eyed girl and her wolf walked out of the building. It wasn't until he turned to return to the SOLDIER that he realized what he had heard. He froze after exiting the elevator and stood, frozen, in the middle of the SOLDIER floor. He had heard two distinct voices laughing. One he knew to be Silvia, but the other was a male and rough. Where had the second laughter come from?

XxXxXxXxXxXxX

Silvia knew someone had been following her through out the day. But she could never catch them in the act. The strange feeling of someone watching her, howver, had completely disappeared.

"Shadow, I kind of want to talk to Reno and Rude." She said aloud all of the sudden.

Shadow peered up at her. Their gazes locked and the Ex-Tsviet tried to communicate her reasons to talk to them.

"Alright, but be careful about what you tell them. They may be our friends now but that doesn't mean it won't change." He responded finally. Silvia nodded in understanding, pulled out her PHS and dialed a number.

XxXxXxXxXxXxX

Shaking his head Genesis made his way to his room. Unlocking the door he entered but stopped dead when he noticed he wasn't the only one in his rooms. Angeal sat on his couch grinning like a mad man at the red clad man while Sephiroth sat in chair, a slight smirk twitching at the corners of his mouth,.

"What?" Genesis snapped irritably.

"Why were you stalking poor Silvia today, Genesis?" Angeal asked.

Genesis huffed in irritation. "I knew you guys wouldn't do anything but look up information about her in that damned database." He motioned dramatically at the computer sitting on his table Sephiroth had it perched on. "So, I decided to take matters into my own hands."

Sephiroth raised an elegant eyebrow at his statement. "Oh. And what have you found out that we haven't?"

The red commander smirked. "I learned she takes on monster hunting missions."

Angeal looked at his friend in confusion. Genesis knew what his friend was thinking. Monster hunting mission were usually carried out by SOLDIER members. Turk's only involved themselves in missions that may endanger the Shinra Company. Whether it is by reputation or literally endangers the company, those things the Turk's always solved.

Genesis watched as his two friends turned over the information in their minds. He seated himself elegantly in one of the chairs opposite Angeal and positioned next to Sephiroth. It amused him to see their faces screwed up in thought. He had finally got one up on his friend's investigation of the mysterious Silvia Lark.

"That is interesting news." Sephiroth muttered to himself.

"Also, Zack tagged along on her little mission. And the scene I saw in the entrance floor both this morning and just a few minutes ago was very amusing to say the least." He added.

Genesis proceeded to tell his friends everything he had witnessed today. He could tell Angeal was amused when Silvia caused his student to fall on his face. Genesis told them about the monsters in sector 4, Silvia's conversation with Reeve and the prank she pulled on the receptionist. Both his friends listened intently as he spoke. Genesis had to admit, it was a quite an interesting day he had spying on the girl. But he wouldn't admit that to Angeal or Sephiroth.

"Why would she pull such a prank on the receptionist?" Sephiroth asked.

Genesis shrugged his shoulders in response. From the corner the couch across from him, Angeal started to laugh. Now it was Genesis's turn to stare at his friend in confusion.

"What are you laughing about?" Genesis demanded.

Angeal chuckled but gathered himself together enough to answer. "I think I have an idea as to why our new friend pulled that prank on the receptionist."

The day Angeal had dragged Silvia and Zack to speak to Rufus flashed through his mind. He didn't really think about the details he had seen when he had first apprehended the two. He had been quite angry at Zack at the time. But, now that he thought about it, and from what he remembered Tseng saying in Rufus's office that day, he could clearly remember a young receptionist waving an "I love Zack" poster.

AN: Hey everyone! It is great to be back and able to post once again! However, I still need a little help. As I said in my last chapter, I need some ideas for some Pranks that Zack and his 'accomplices' can pull on certain members of the science and Shinra staff. If anyone had any ideas, please shoot me PM or just add it in your review. Accomplices, the victim and the prank itself would be very helpful. you don't need any huge details, maybe just the prank idea. I will also make sure that the idea for the prank, I will make sure to give all credit to you. Please also, Read, Review and Favorite everyone!