Jeanne: Oh my! I'm sorry for us taking so long to update, unfortunately I'm an uninspired little bugger and dragged Colette down into the abyss of unwrite-y...ness with me!

Aerith: that and I had exams (and a slight mental breakdown) but that's all sorted out now!

Jeanne: Sorted! Also, I've got to figure out this fabled double space thing. The Creative Writing teacher demands an essay on goals... goals of which I have none! Oh, lookit that. My goal? Get through Other Plans without getting off track! Can I put that? Nope...

Aerith: you could try... fabled double space thing? dare i ask or should we continue?

Jeanne: You shouldn't ask. Really, just don't... maybe I'll tell you after we write. Yes! To the disclaimer -showers readers with sparkles-

Disclaimer: They don't own a thing.

To say Zack was worried would be an understatement. His leg was bouncing up and down uncontrollably, most likely wearing a hole in the carpet, and he had to fight the urge to do squats.

The raven haired SOLDIER didn't have a clue as to how Sephiroth would take the tale, no one would. His mentor might have been able to take a wild guess but even Angeal wasn't magic. Besides, the older man had disappeared a few months ago along with Genesis.

Sephiroth took a deep breath, remaining silent as he evaluated the news. He nodded. "Thank you." He wanted to scream, to lash out, but he knew better. He looked at Zack, reaching out a hand to rest it on the other's shoulder, feeling him tensing under his shoulder before relaxing. He stared at Vincent in shock, trying to understand the depth of what he had said.

Zack sighed mentally, glad that Sephiroth hadn't decided to burn down the entire building. He could see the cogs in the silver haired man's mind turning, a rare moment of weakness few would probably see. Deciding to speed the process up a bit, Zack was never known for patience, he decided to speak. "What're we going to do sir?"

Sephiroth tensed. What were they going to do? He certainly couldn't work for the company any longer. He'd known Hojo did inhumane experiments for quite some time but he'd never really thought about it. To quit ShinRa would be to escape from the scientist, something that hadn't even been possible when he was in Wutai.

He couldn't just quit though, there would be repercussions. Major ones at that, Zack and Cloud didn't need to be on the run with him.

He sighed, staring at Zack, glancing around at the others in the room. Cloud clearly trusted the girl, and Zack trusted Cloud. Vincent's existence relied on their support. But it was still with some difficulty that he admitted the truth. "I don't know." Having said that, he felt a weight lifting off his chest, even though he couldn't avoid the slight look of terror in Zack's eyes. "But we will decide." He could leave, but there were still the others. The only other option would be to bring down the company from the inside.

Zack bounced on his feet, waiting. The tone of Sephiroth's voice had suggested he was already working on a plan. Not that Zack liked to wait but the man figured it wouldn't be wise to push too many of Sephiroth's buttons. Did the man even have buttons to push? Zack started pondering this as he waited.

Sephiroth paused, smiling slightly. "You guys should go somewhere safe. I will stay here and ensure the company is sabotaged, stop it that way. Do you understand corporal?" He didn't want to send the only friend he had left away, but there was no other choice. He had to ensure they would be safe.

Zack's musings screeched to a rather noisy, annoyed halt at the plan. "No! Seph that isn't going to do it for me! We can't leave you behind," the raven haired teen complained.

Cloud, taking Zack's side for once, cleared his throat. "Sir, ShinRa will know that we came to visit you before departing. You won't be trusted and you'll be unable to accomplish your goals," the blonde announced before blushing and looking down in shock. He'd just openly defied his commander!

Sephiroth smirked slightly, amused at the other's embarrassment. "All valid points, though Strife managed to present them far better than you Zack." He smiled at the young blonde's obvious relief. "Thank you for your advice." He wasn't thinking clearly, that was obvious. He would need to calm down before he made any more decisions.

Zack pouted, sitting himself firmly on the floor in an attempt to look even more hurt. It appeared to fail when Tifa finally started laughing and Cloud was forced to cover the grin on his face up. The SOLDIER grumbled under his breath and continued sulking. He supposed if they were laughing though it was better than nothing. Even Sephiroth seemed to be amused, a small quirk of the lips was the only thing the man showed though.

Cloud couldn't hold back the giggles for long. Vincent stared , coughing slightly to draw attention to himself. "What will we do then?" He stared blankly. "I am officially dead, and you are all in trouble with the company." He almost flinched as the noise of the demons rose up.

Sephiroth leaned forward, resting his arms on his desk as he continued to think. His mind was clouded, thoughts dancing around each other in an attempt at distracting him. It was to bad that their attempts were working.

He nearly jumped when he felt a hand touch his shoulder. He glanced over at Zack, it appeared that not only had the teen decided to pick himself off the floor but he also was going to help the silver haired man out.

"We can't leave a single one of us behind. Not only would the company kill us they'd throw us to Hojo," the raven haired SOLDIER looked around the room briefly. "However, just because we all leave and hide away doesn't mean we'll be safe. ShinRa'll chase Sephiroth to the ends of Gaia, they don't want their perfect SOLDIER getting away..." Zack paused, at a loss.

"Perhaps we could find allies outside of Midgar?" Cloud asked, blue eyes wide in curiosity.

Sephiroth leant slightly against Zack;s hand. The movement was barely visible, only a slight incline of his body, but it meant a lot to them both. Showed how close they were. "We could try." They were already in a bad situation and maybe it would be better to get out; hope it went well outside rather than staying here.

Zack grinned at everyone, the smile brightening up the room. "I've got our first new friend! Can we visit her? Pleaasse?" Sephiroth hissed in annoyance, turning away from the sight of Zack's puppy pout and eyes.

"Yes Zackary we can go visit the Ancient," the SOLDIER pumped his fist in the air in victory. "However first I believe we must pack."

"We're still packed from the Nibleheim trip sir," Cloud said, still mildly embarrassed at his defiance earlier.

Sephiroth nodded, another slight smile on his lips. He could see the other's embarrassment, but chose to ignore it to spare the boy any further discomfort. "Then i believe I must pack."

"We'll be head down! You remember the way Seph?" the General nodded and Zack proceeded to drag everyone out of the room in his enthusiasm. He was going to get to see his flower girl!

Jeanne: It's short but really... it's a good place to stop! I swear! Right 'Let?

Aerith: yeh.. my fault it ended, i just thought it was a sensible place to end it.

Jeanne: -proceeds to strangle Colette- Not. Your. Fault! I was going to suggest it myself!

Aerith: -whimpers- she's so cruel to me! you all saw it! -blinks- anyway, please review!