Hello again my fellow readers and an early Happy Halloween. I can't believe my favorite time of year is already a few days away. Times flies when you're having fun. This would have been out sooner, but I've been so busy finding out amazing news about my favorite titles. Did anyone of you SEE that new trailer for FFXV?! My gosh, I haven't been that mind-blown since the announcement of the FFVII remake last year. That was only part of it. I was also hyped for KH2.8 and the news that the 1.5 and 2.5 remixes are coming to the PS4. I also got KingsGlaive recently and those graphics...just...wow. I can't wait to see the FFVII remake with that same quality. Anyway, I'm rambling, sorry. ^^;

I did want to answer a few reviews here, and I apologize that I don't respond more often. I definitely don't have any way to explain Hojo's reasons except that he's an immoral slug that needs to be squished, but he doesn't really have any good intentions. Yes, he doesn't see what he's doing is wrong, but his cannon work speaks for itself. Crisis Core is a perfect example of that.

Also, thank you, humble servent. I'm trying to make sure this story is one of my better ones. I got stuck on a few other ones that I was working on and I felt bad since many seemed to enjoy them so I tried to make it up a little bit with this one until I get out of the rut with the others. Your compliment is definitely appreciated. ^_^

I hope you all enjoy this chapter and the rest to come.


Chapter Fifteen

Later that night Zack knocked twice on Sephiroth's door before entering. The general was busy at his desk going over mission reports and signing paper after paper. Zack swore one of the stacks had to be at least three hundred forms high. Sephiroth didn't even bother to look up as he continued reading over one of the forms before signing at the bottom. Zack knew the drill. He sat down in one of the two vacant office chairs and waited for his general to reach a stopping point, which could take hours, but he hoped it wouldn't be that long.

Finally the general set his pen down and sat back in his chair. He brought up one hand to rub his temples before acknowledging his lieutenant. "What is it, Zack?"

The ravenette gave his friend a sad smile before replying. "You really do need to hire a secretary."

"They still wouldn't be able to sign an official report in my place, so why bother? Most of its classified and anyone we hire with enough clearance would most likely be assigned from the Turks."

Zack nodded slowly in agreement. True he had a few friends in the Turks, but he still wouldn't trust them completely. They operated by their own rules and not even a First Class could order them around if it didn't fit into their agenda.

"You did not come here just to check on my well-being. What's your real reason? I'd like to finish these sometime tonight."

"There's actually a few things I wanted to ask you about. First, I was wondering if we could set something up for Tifa; the girl from Cloud's hometown. She's staying with me tonight, but I'm sure she'd rather have her own place."

"There are plenty of hotels above the plate where she could stay Zack."

"I know, but if she's part of you know, what you told us then shouldn't she be in a more protected place?"

Sephiroth gave him a stern look. "Right now there is no one else who knows of that and unless you've acquired a case of stupidity then you'll remember that the information I disclosed is classified under the highest order."

Zack nodded, "I guess you're right."

"What was the second issue," the general asked.

Zack brightened up at the reminder. "Oh, it's about Cloud's reassignment. You said you wanted to give him another shot at SOLDIER and I wanted to know if I could take him on as my pupil. Didn't you say something like that on the way back?"

"I did, however we must take this slowly. We can't rouse any suspicion. I've already written up the request form for a transfer and will send it out tomorrow, however we must tread carefully."

Zack smiled at the general. "Don't worry about that Seph. If anyone asks why you've taken an interest just tell them you're doing me a favor because I was impressed with the last mission I handled before when I first met him. He was pretty good then too. And this latest mission where 'he tried to save the reactor' only proves my gut instincts that he has SOLDIER potential."

"If you want to take full responsibility for him then that's fine, I'll authorize it and write up a new form stating such."

"See, problem solved. That wasn't so hard. I can't wait to start training with him one on one." Zack was so excited about the matter his leg started bouncing in place to which Sephiroth shot him a glare.

"Calm yourself lieutenant, remember we're treading on dangerous ground. If we don't plan our steps carefully-"

"I know, it can blow up in our faces. Don't worry Seph. We can handle it," Zack finished confidentially. His face shifted into a more serious tone as he addressed his commanding officer. "Believe me, after everything you told us I'm not going to take his training lightly and I won't let my guard down either."

Sephiroth nodded. "To be honest, I'm surprised you believed me so easily."

"Well, when you awaken a guy who's been dead to the world for countless years and then perfectly collaborates with your story it's kind of hard not to believe it. I still don't understand the whole time-traveling thing, but I know enough. And after failing to help…" Zack paused has he forced back the painful memory, "…them I'm not going to fail anyone else. I swear it on my honor as a SOLIDER."

Sephiroth nodded in understanding. "Of that I have no doubt." He pulled out a manila folder from his desk and set it in front of Zack. "I have new orders for you. While the Turks often keep watch on a target Tseng has informed me that they cannot spend their resources guarding it all the time. Therefore they've requested that a SOLDIER help with the job."

"What'd this guy do, steal Rude's sunglasses," Zack joked with a chuckle as he picked up the folder and opened it. The smile quickly vanished from his face.

Sephiroth remained stone-faced as he continued. "No, this target has been deemed top secret and Tseng has informed me that you've stumbled upon the person in question before. He's noticed how well you get along and requested that you watch her while they cannot."

Zack gave his general a worried look. The target in question was Aerith. "Why are the Turks watching her?"

Sephiroth pulled out a note pad and began writing as he answered. "Tseng didn't specify. He only said she was an important resource." He slid the paper over to Zack who read it: You know exactly why. If the Turks know as well it'll be difficult to protect her. That's why I'm entrusting her safety to you.

"Think you can handle it Lieutenant?"

Zack folded the paper and put it in his pocket before nodding. "Yes sir. I'll keep a close eye on her." With a silent nod he acknowledged the importance of the message. Regardless of the fact that she was an Ancient as Sephiroth had told him, he would protect her no matter what. She was his girlfriend after all. He'd take on a hundred behemoths to protect her.

Sephiroth nodded before turning back to his paperwork. "Good. You're dismissed."

. . .

Cloud struggled and fought against the suffocating cloth that tangled itself around him. He punched and kicked as his assailant shifted him along to who knew where. All Cloud knew was that he couldn't tell which way was up or down. At times it felt like he was floating while other times it felt as if he were plummeting towards the ground. Finally when he felt he was about to black out from the lack of oxygen the cloth pulled away and he tumbled across the dusty ground until his back hit against a rock.

Dazed and confused, he squinted his eyes and tried to aim his weapon at whomever or whatever had grabbed him when he realized his rifle was missing. He began to panic until he heard metal clanking against the ground.

"You have a lot of ground to recover before you reach the level of strength you once had," came a deep, raspy voice.

Cloud rubbed his eyes and looked up only to relax. "Vincent," he sighed with relief. "What kept you? We didn't know where you went once we left Nibelheim."

"I've been doing research," he replied. "A lot has happened in the last thirty years and I never had the chance to see what was going on at this point in time."

"What do you mean? I thought you remembered what happened in the future."

Vincent nodded, "Yes, but the first time I woke up you were in your early twenties and the Turks were a shell of their former selves. Things are different now."

As the ex-Turk turned to stare out into the open Cloud took a glance at the landscape. It was no wonder why he felt like he had been flying. They were currently outside of the city entirely!

"Why'd you drag me all the way out here?"

Vincent didn't answer for a moment but when he turned he had a look that made the blonde more than a little nervous. "I know Sephiroth may honestly be trying to right the wrongs of his past, but there is still a chance he could fail. And now that he knows what you might become he won't make the same mistakes twice."

Cloud stood up and took a step back. "What are you talking about? We destroyed Jenova and the lab. Both of you said that was the breaking point. Why would he lose his mind now?"

Vincent's eyes seemed to scoff at the question. "Do you honestly believe Hojo will stop there? He will try again. Why do you think he's ordered some Turks to stay behind and search the reactor and the mansion?"

Cloud's blank expression told Vincent everything. "You didn't know?"

The blonde shook his head. "That kind of information is for the higher ups like Zack and the general. I have no authority to know something like that. I'm still just a grunt."

"I would have expected you would have tried to climb the ranks by now," the ex-Turk stated half to Cloud and half to himself.

"We only just got back this morning and it's not like I can suddenly get stronger overnight."

Vincent didn't like that answer. He approached the blonde until he was standing mere inches in front of him. "In another lifetime we understood each other's actions without having to explain. Often times we hardly ever needed to speak. This is one of those times."

Cloud took a step back. "No offense, but I'm not the Cloud you knew."

"Not yet," Vincent replied before grabbing Cloud by his uniform collar and pulling him up until his feet left the ground.

"Vincent, what are you doing?" the blonde asked in a panic before the gunman's red eyes began glowing. Cold fear suddenly gripped Cloud's heart and he was unable to move. Before he could react the golden claw shot up and grabbed the blonde's head, covering his eyes and forehead and forcing the blond to shut them tightly.

"You'll thank me later," he replied before his red cloak flowed outward as if guided by a gentle wind. His eyes glowed brighter and the area in his chest where his heart once resided began to glow a brilliant red. A powerful energy shot up from the materia in his chest, through his arm and right into Cloud's head. The blast of energy sent the blonde flying back and he struck the rock once again before falling to his knees.

"What…what'd you do to me?" he asked, barely conscious.

There was an unbearable pain surging through his head and he couldn't focus on anything. The red cloak enveloped him again and he blacked out.